I have written in this space many times about the problematic nature of Facebook. How it encourages divides, how it has an algorithm that rewards strife, and conspiracy theories. How it breaks up relationships, and families. Well the New York Times is reporting that on this evening on 60 minutes a former employee will expose everything, and apparently she has receipts.
A Facebook executive said in a defiant internal memo that a former employee will accuse the company of contributing to the U.S. Capitol riot, the New York Times first reported Saturday.Why it matters: Facebook appears to be launching a pre-emptive strike against the whistleblower ahead of a CBS "60 Minutes" interview airing Sunday and her scheduled appearance at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
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(Vice‑President for Global Affairs and Communications at Facebook Nick) Clegg states that the program will "suggest that the extraordinary steps we took for the 2020 elections were relaxed too soon and contributed to the horrific events of January 6th in the Capitol."
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She claims she can "prove Facebook is lying to the public and investors about the effectiveness of its campaigns to eradicate hate, violence and misinformation from its platforms," per CBS.
Obviously it seems we are made promises weekly about finally seeing consequences for those so dedicated and responsible for the peril our Democracy finds itself in. Be it endless predictions about Trump or indictments, or the latest hearing in congress, over and over again we get our hopes up about accountability for the perpetrators trying to destroy our country.
Maybe just maybe this time it is real.
For his part Mr. Clegg is direct in his defense of the company, claiming that there is no algorithmic reward for polarizing content, and no evidence to back up that claim.
I have extra kettle corn ready to go.
-ROC
*Nick Clegg is the former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 2010-2015 and was leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2007-2015.
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-ROC