2021-10-05 11:24:58

“Appalling and Unacceptable”: Leak Shows Facebook Knew Its Algorithms Spread Hate & Harmed Children

An unprecedented leak at Facebook reveals top executives at the company knew about major issues with the platform from their own research but kept the damning information hidden from the public. The leak shows Facebook deliberately ignored rampant disinformation, hate speech, and political unrest in order to boost ad sales and is also implicated in child safety and human trafficking violations.


Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen leaked thousands of documents and revealed her identity as the whistleblower during an interview with “60 Minutes.”


She is set to testify today before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection. “​​​​Their value system, which is about efficiency and speed and growth and profit and power, is in conflict with democracy,” says Roger McNamee, who was an early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg and author of Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe.


He says Facebook executives are prioritizing profits over safety. We also speak with Jessica González, co-CEO of the media advocacy organization Free Press and co-founder of Change the Terms, a coalition that works to disrupt online hate, who says this demonstrates Facebook is “unfit” to regulate itself. “We need Congress to step in.”



Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

60 Minutes Amy Goodman Democracy Now! Disinformation Facebook France Haugen Free Speech TV Hate Speech Instagram Political unrest Roger McNamee Whistle Blower

Human Rights and Equality

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Survivor and Activist Speak Out on $116M Settlement Over Abuse at FCI Dublin

Democracy Now! | Survivor and Activist Speak Out on $116M Settlement Over Abuse at FCI Dublin

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Supreme Court Reviews Trans Youth Care Ban A Landmark Case

Democracy Now! | Supreme Court Reviews Trans Youth Care Ban A Landmark Case

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

Rising Up With Sonali

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Related

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | USAID Shutdown? Elon Musk Claims Trump Agreed to Dismantle Agency

Democracy Now! | USAID Shutdown? Elon Musk Claims Trump Agreed to Dismantle Agency

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Elon Musk Targets U.K. in Disinformation Push

Democracy Now! | Elon Musk Targets U.K. in Disinformation Push

The Thom Hartmann Program

The Thom Hartmann Program | Does the Left Needs its own Media Ecosystem?

The Thom Hartmann Program | Does the Left Needs its own Media Ecosystem?

The Thom Hartmann Program

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

Proud Partners