Whistleblower: Facebook Has No Oversight; Can’t Be Trusted.
Sen. Lujan — Facebook needs independent oversight. RFOB: Facebook must be investigated, audited, regulated and stopped — We can’t let Facebook do its own homework any longer. [UPDATED]
Oct 5 — The Real Facebook Oversight Board has been vindicated by whistleblower Frances Haugen’s remarks to Congress. “Facebook has no oversight even from its own Oversight Board which is as blind as the public.”
- Frances Haugen describes Oversight Board “as blind as the public”
- Impossible to independently verify Facebook’s claims
- SEC whistleblower claims allege Facebook repeatedly misled investors, Congress and users
Frances Haugen’s testimony confirmed what The Real Facebook Oversight Board has been saying repeatedly since it was first formed a year ago: the Oversight Board performs only fake oversight, a point underscored by Sen. Lujan who called for independent oversight of the platform.
Haugen’s testimony also shows the extreme to which Facebook has become a breeding ground for hateful, racist and extremist content and disinformation, with “only 3–5%” of hate speech ever discovered by moderators.
The message is clear: Facebook must be investigated, audited, regulated and stopped. Facebook can’t be allowed to do its own homework any longer. Congress must act now to put in place independent oversight.
In Haugen’s own words: “A company with control over our deepest thoughts, feelings and behaviours needs real oversight,” pointing out that scientists were able to independently debunk claims made by the tobacco industry but that is currently impossible with Facebook.
We call for a full investigation into Facebook, including criminal inquiries if necessary for lying to shareholders, regulators and the government. We call for an independent, outside audit. And we call urgently for Facebook to have real oversight — independent oversight with transparency, integrity and power.
Real Facebook Oversight Board members are available for comment. Statements do not reflect the individual positions of all Real Facebook Oversight Board Members. Contact us at media@the-citizens.com.
Reaction from Real Facebook Oversight Board members -
“This needs to be the beginning of the end of the great Facebook cover-up. Congress needs to legislate. And the SEC needs to act. Frances Haugen has submitted devastating evidence that Mark Zuckerberg has lied and misled Congress, investors and users. These are potentially criminal offences. This culture of impunity must now end.” — Carole Cadwalladr, Guardian journalist who broke Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal and co-founder of the Real Facebook Oversight Board
“Facebook is a vector for bigotry, lies and violence, and is undermining democracy. That much we knew. What Frances Haugen has bravely revealed is Facebook’s actual knowledge and serial cover-up of the extent of its global harm. We now unequivocally know that Facebook is unfit to self-govern. Congress and the Federal Trade Commission must step in to protect our civil and human rights online.” — Jessica Gonzalez, Co-Executive Director, Free Press
