The US Congress has released new documents in the ongoing investigation of Facebook.
In addition, a new whistleblower issued a legal statement accusing the social media giant of dismissing concerns about the spread of misinformation and hate speech.
The documents and statement back the warnings of Francis Haugen’s claim that Facebook puts profit before security, and he now writes for several international media outlets that gained access to edited versions of the documents via the Congressional Security Committee.
– We all have gasoline on fire
Documents show that many Facebook employees reacted aggressively during the congressional storm on January 6, according to AP . news agency.
Already when the intrusion occurred, employees were said to have complained to management on internal communication platforms.
A stormy Congress: Trump supporters entered Congress and killed several people on January 6. Several hundred attackers were arrested and charged. Photo: John Mincello
Haven’t we had enough time to figure out how to organize discussions without facilitating violence? One employee asked in conversation?
We’ve had gas on these fires for a long time, and we shouldn’t be surprised that they’re out of control now.
The latest leaked document has been reported in several US media outlets.
according to AP They showed that Facebook completely ignored the fact that the storming of Congress was planned through the network. This is despite the fact that the US authorities have been investigating for several years whether the company adequately regulates the use of the platform.
Read also: – Facebook harms children
Facebook employees also appear to have warned of the many false claims that the election was stolen. However, management must have done very little to organize the platform.
Some directors: Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, has repeatedly testified before Congress about the influence and responsibility of the giant. Here during a hearing in 2018. Photo: Jim Watson
We print money
The new informant also spoke about the violations Washington Post. According to the newspaper, the person in question was working in Facebook’s integrity department.
The whistleblower is said to have complained about Facebook’s reluctance to implement security measures for fear of provoking Donald Trump and his supporters, because they fear it will hurt the company’s growth.
According to the court statement, the whistleblower had a conversation with Facebook’s head of communications Tucker Bounds, where he confronted the Bounds, and said he was concerned about Facebook’s role in election rigging in the 2016 election.
Some lawmakers will be angry. And then, in a few weeks, they’ll find something else. Meanwhile, we’re printing money downstairs, and we’re fine, Pounds is said to have said.
Today, Pounds will not comment on the accusation, but he is somewhat incomprehensible on the news issue.
To be asked about an alleged one-on-one conversation that took place four years ago with an unidentified person, without any other sources for this empty accusation, is new to me, he tells the newspaper.
– I feel like I participated in a genocide
The whistleblower is also criticizing Facebook for not taking action after receiving information that the platform was used to spread hate speech during the Rohingya massacre in Myanmar in 2017.
Facebook has previously admitted that they haven’t done enough to reduce violence outside of their online domain.
Moreover, the whistleblower feels responsible for what happened in Myanmar.
“By working for Facebook, I participated in a genocide,” he wrote in a court statement, according to the Washington Post.
Genocide: Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were killed in pursuit of the Myanmar army. Photo: Stringer
refuses to take any action
Facebook spokeswoman Erin McPeak rejects the revelations, and believes the case was based on a scant source.
This must be under the Washington Post, you say, accusing the newspaper of competing against the New York Times in an effort to discredit Facebook.
She believes Facebook has a vested interest in countering disinformation and hate speech.
As a company, we have commercial and ethical incentives, which means giving as many people as possible a positive experience on Facebook, McPike answers.
When asked what happened in Myanmar, MacBayk acknowledged that they had not done enough, but claims that they now have proper regulations in place.
The spokeswoman said that the way Facebook deals with Myanmar today is fundamentally different from what it was in 2017, and the accusation that we did not invest in security in the country is a false accusation.
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