Good morning,
Facebook Whistleblower
Frances Haugen’s testimony to a Senate committee was straight forward and disturbing. Because simply and clearly she painted a picture of Facebook not unable to deal with bad content on the platform, but unwilling to do so because it would reduce profits.
So what are we talking about? The content ranges from ethnic hatred worldwide, to political extremism and even content that draws in young teenager girls and leads them to hate their bodies to the point of suicide in some cases.
Haugen who left Facebook with thousands of documents, said the AI algorithm which Facebook won’t share with Government or University experts, is hidden behind walls intentionally she said, because they want you to think the sharing of pictures of your children and being inundated by hatred is unsolvable, but it’s a lie she claimed.
She charged the company hides its data on how it impacts the health and safety of children, it has made a closed design to escape oversight, she compared it to the tobacco industry and opioids, and that Facebook can change but it won’t unless it’s forced to do so. Facebook she said place profit about protection of users and won’t regulate bad content because it will decrease the number of ‘clicks’ and revenue.
Haugen explained how Facebook had amplified dangerous speech leading to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, how misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines spread on its services, and how false information contributed to ethnic violence in Ethiopia and Myanmar saying the “engagement based rating system” literally fans the flames of ethnic violence”.
Surely now if the case is proven, if Facebook is knowingly not just being used, but using hatred for engagement, that is the case for forcing real regulation of a platform that has turned the World upside down.
“So here’s my message for Mark Zuckerberg: Your time of invading our privacy, promoting toxic content and preying on children and teens is over,” said Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts.
But how will Government actually regulate Facebook is a huge question to be answered. This is not the first time Facebook has been connected to scandalous materials which have changed the direction of democratic elections or the selling of your personal information, but this time there is a clear call for Facebook opening up its system to oversight and Government seems prepared to do it.
British Online Regulation
The British regulator known as Ofcom has now laid out new rules to regulate sites including TikTok, Snapchat, Vimeo and Twitch, must ensure content related to terrorism, child sexual abuse and racism does not appear.
A third of users have seen hateful content on such sites, Ofcom says.
Fines will be levied if the social media giants don’t enforce clear rules for uploading content, make the reporting and complaints process easier, and restrict access to adult sites with robust age-verification.
Russia and Navalny
45 Countries are demanding Russia now come clean about the use of nerve agents in last years poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and they are giving Russia 10 days to respond.
The sudden demand comes after Russia delayed a visit by OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) inspectors to answer questions about the use of a nerve agent, against the charter which Russia is a signatory.
Catholic Church
An investigation in allegations of sexual abuse by the French Catholic Church, has found 216,000 children were victims of the clergy since 1950.
The numbers of children are stunning, and the systemic abuse incredibly disturbing in said the investigation. The Church not only did not take the necessary measures to prevent abuse but also turned a blind eye, failing to report abuse and sometimes knowingly putting children in touch with predators.
Canada and Covid
The Canadian P.M. Trudeau, is to announce today that all Federal workers must be vaccinated against Covid. Canadian newspapers are quoting sources saying mandatory vaccination is also expected to apply to travellers on planes, trains and cruise ships within Canada, according to one source.
The mandate is expected to apply not only to full-time staff but to casual employees and students, and a requirement that an employee declare they’ve been vaccinated, rather than having to show proof.
Have a good morning everyone!
Dana
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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/technology/facebook-whistle-blower-hearing.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58809169
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211006-western-countries-ask-russia-for-answers-about-poisoning-of-critic-navalny
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211005-french-catholic-church-inquiry-finds-at-least-216-000-paedophilia-cases-between-1950-and-2020
https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/10/05/trudeau-to-announce-vaccination-mandate-for-all-federal-public-servants.html