Discussion

• @franceshaugen Frances Haugen on x

  I have accepted the invitation to brief the Facebook Oversight Board about what I learned while working there. Facebook has lied to the board repeatedly, and I am looking forward to sharing the truth with them.

• @oversightboard Oversight Board on x

  Former Facebook employee @FrancesHaugen will be speaking to the Oversight Board in the coming weeks. Board members appreciate the chance to discuss Ms. Haugen's experiences and gather information that can help push for greater transparency and accountability from Facebook.

• @matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x

  Haugen isn't speaking to the antitrust subcommittee and didn't share docs with the Federal Trade Commission, but she's legitimizing Facebook's Oversight Board PR ploy. https://twitter.com/...

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  Warning: Although Facebook whistleblower's brave testimony continues to be important to understanding harms and prior cover-ups, a reminder it's not a “board” but a Facebook entity with comms led by a trusted lieutenant and former speechwriter for Facebook and Google's CEOs. 1/2 …

• @evelyndouek Evelyn Douek on x

  Yes, Haugen's revelations about the X-Check system have specific relevance to the Board's prior decisions, but I feel very ambivalent about the performative nature of this and the selective nature of the Board's transparency about which stakeholders it meets with https://twitter.…

• @ylitvinenko Yuri Litvinenko on x

  I prefer “a self-regulatory organization of one member and no authority.” https://twitter.com/...

• @chrismessina @chrismessina on x

  So, has it been the Undersight Board or Overblind Board? I hope its members are sufficiently pissed when they find out how they've been mislead and lied to. They've claimed independence; their response will speak volumes. #facebookwhistleblower https://twitter.com/...

• @jeremarketer Jeremy Goldman on x

  Facebook's oversight board is going to meet up with Frances Haugen for some casual drinks and/or discussing how FB is problematic for some teen users' mental health: https://oversightboard.com/...

• @richimedhurst Richard Medhurst on x

  I wish actual whistleblowers, who exposed state crimes, mass surveillance and assassination programs, would get the same hero's welcome in the corporate press as the Facebook ‘whistleblower’ did. When do Snowden, Manning and Hale get to testify to Congress about govt crimes?

• @gfscstudio @gfscstudio on x

  The fastest route to becoming a “thought leader” on digital ethics: - Take some massive paychecks from big tech companies to “ethics wash” their work - Get fired for something you know will definately get you fired - Congrats, you're now a thought leader - TED will be in touch ht…

• @ylitvinenko Yuri Litvinenko on x

  I don't know why we aren't comparing the Oversight Board with SROs more often. Just like SRO, its key purpose is to _indicate the intent_ of their members to behave (not connected with actual deeds) so govt would keep itself away. The only unique factor is it's for Facebook only

• @ekp Ellen K. Pao on x

  I hope the oversight board at Facebook meets with even more people with real-world knowledge of how platforms operate and run for recommendations that will have meaningful impact. And if they haven't reached out to @szhang_ds is it serious?https://oversightboard.com/ ...

• @elisabethbraw Elisabeth Braw on x

  This is incredible. Many of us have been wondering why Facebook's Oversight Board did nothing. https://twitter.com/...

• @vickerysec Chris Vickery on x

  Seems like a mistake to me. The “Facebook Oversight Board” is Facebook. It is not independent. Its members are paid by Facebook and hold the position at the pleasure of Facebook. There is nothing here but show. If Frances is serious she will not play that game. https://twitter.co…

• @sivavaid Dr. Siva Vaidhyanathan on x

  How long until all the members of @OversightBoard resign in protest and disgust? Or do they get paid too much to resign? https://twitter.com/...

• @donwinslow Don Winslow on x

  This is important. Please retweet it. https://twitter.com/...

• @adl @adl on x

  As the FB Oversight Board hears from @FrancesHaugen, we hope members consider its legitimacy. If the Board isn't getting accurate & consistent information, how can they hold @Facebook accountable? We need real accountability starting with transparency. #REPAIRtheInternet https://…

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  People trying to make the case to regulators in 2021 that Facebook's manipulation-for-hire business model is irredeemable are in the same position as anti-tobacco crusaders who had to testify back when there was an ashtray in front of every congressman.

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  A key policy question is whether the surveillance advertising business model is intrinsically harmful or just needs lots of guard rails around it. You're not going to hear the first point of view articulated by anyone who worked for years at these companies, by definition. https:…

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  Great. One small tip, it's not a “board” and civil society will be all the better once it stop calling it by Facebook's preferred name. It's a Facebook advisory committee - at best. Keep up the great work. https://twitter.com/...

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  At the moment we have a situation where a former Facebook product manager is advising a Facebook-reliant Congress on how to regulate an industry whose irredeemable business model she saw no problem with for eight years or more. And now the Facebook Supreme Court will hear all!

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  At some point in this morality play it would be nice to bring in parties that have never cashed a check from Facebook. https://twitter.com/...

• @mattnavarra Matt Navarra on x

  Facebook's @OversightBoard to meet whistleblower Frances Haugen in the coming weeks https://www.oversightboard.com/ ...

• @caseynewton Casey Newton on x

  The Frances Haugen tour is coming to the Oversight Board https://oversightboard.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @davidamichaels Dave Michaels on x

  Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's claims don't look like a classic securities fraud case, but the SEC will feel pressure to investigate. https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ

• @paulwsj Paul Beckett on x

  Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's claims don't look like classic securities fraud, but the SEC will feel pressure to investigate - latest smarts from ⁦@davidamichaels⁩ https://www.wsj.com/...

• @onlinesafetycom @onlinesafetycom on x

  1/3 NEW: @FrancesHaugen will give evidence to us on Monday 25 October from 2.30pm @UKParliament. This will be her first public testimony in Europe...

• @jeffnolan Jeff Nolan on x

  classic Facebook: Phase 1: Deny, deny, deny Phase 2: Discredit critics Phase 3: Subvert critics, claim beneficial impacts Phase 4: Lobby for regulatory changes Phase 5: Suggest possible changes to algorithms are needed https://twitter.com/...

• @thatjohnjones John Jones on x

  That bloody word “nudge” again. It was the Con-Lib coalition government in 2012, of which Clegg was “Deputy PM”, that fell head-over-heels in love with nudge theory, and in so doing felt they could destroy the UK's Central Office of Information as it would no longer be needed. ht…

• @lorakolodny Lora Kolodny on x

  what is this vague excuse for a metric supposed to mean? “if our algorithms are as nefarious as some people suggest, why is it that those systems have reduced the prevalence of hate speech on our platforms to as little as 0.05%?” https://twitter.com/...

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  “Algorithms are not going away. But there are ways for Facebook to improve them, ⁦@rachelmetz⁩ writes. “It will, however, require something Facebook has so far appeared reluctant to offer: more transparency and control for users.” https://www.cnn.com/...

• @independent @independent on x

  Nick Clegg 'can't say' whether Facebook's algorithm helped inspire US Capitol riot https://www.independent.co.uk/ ...

• @nichboy Nich Richardson on x

  Facebook plans “to introduce a feature “called ‘take a break,’ where we will be prompting teens to just simply take a break from using Instagram.” Yeah, because people always stop using things that hurt them when you ask them to. You fucking idiots. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @hypervisible @hypervisible on x

  When considering platforms' algorithms it's also crucial to think about the massive surveillance mechanisms that undergird them. Much of what they do depends on ubiquitous tracking. https://www.cnn.com/...

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  Haugen is not saying algorithms should be wiped out — she is talking about transparency around them and more sensible design.

• @rmac18 @rmac18 on x

  Still, I find it hard to believe that Facebook doesn't have the tools, people, and resources to ascertain whether or not its algorithms pushed election fraud content ahead of Jan. 6. It may be a complex problem, but it seems like one you'd probably want to get to the bottom of.

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  @RMac18 I'm also a bit surprised frankly the company doesn't have something prepared on this that it'll share now. Along with what guardrails it dropped post election. They're going to have to tell Jan 6 committee ultimately, surely.

• @rmac18 @rmac18 on x

  Watching this clip and it feels like this is a moment that will come back to bite Facebook. Either outcome isn't great. Either FB's algos did amplify election fraud content, or FB doesn't know what content is pushed by its systems. https://twitter.com/...

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  So @nickclegg is blabbing away to everyone but reporters who have covered the company since its founding. Sway's gotten a pile of no's from FB execs for interviews, emails so numerous that I could paper my powder room with them. Nonetheless, nice job @DanaBashCNN who is onto him.…

• @tristansnell Tristan Snell on x

  Was part of the Trump-Zuckerberg secret bargain that Facebook would turn a blind eye to “Stop the Steal” and the planning of January 6?

• @debramessing Debra Messing✍🏻 on x

  .@Facebook helping SPREAD MISINFORMATION. Spreading the message of INSURRECTIONISTS. https://twitter.com/...

• @jeffjarvis Jeff Jarvis on x

  She might not outlaw algorithmic promotion but others would and this would be the result. https://twitter.com/...

• @evan_greer Evan Greer on x

  This this this this It's hard (not impossible) to regulate algorithms themselves and even harder (probably impossible) to regulate the underlying speech without doing more harm than good But Congress can & should ban the surveillance practices that are the source of FB's power ht…

• @blackamazon @blackamazon on x

  They can't fix it themselves and shouldn't be trusted to https://twitter.com/...

• @cnn @cnn on x

  Algorithms are not going away. But there are ways for Facebook to improve them, experts in algorithms and artificial intelligence told CNN Business. It will, however, require more transparency and control for users. https://cnn.com/...

• @davewiner Dave Winer on x

  I will keep saying positive things about Facebook to balance the fact that the press only attacks them and never Google.

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  Bottom-line, we need more scrutiny of academics and “experts” - who consult, receive funding or partner with Facebook or even former employees - now spreading narratives consistent with Facebook's crisis PR plan. There are lines they don't cross at a time they need crossing.

• @lizmair Liz Mair on x

  ... in the US, it reads as “shit I have no idea what I'm talking about and I'm really sweating this.” Conversely on UK TV, someone who speaks fluidly without tripping over a single word sounds over-rehearsed and inauthentic. I say this as someone who does TV in BOTH places.

• @lizmair Liz Mair on x

  Also a small suggestion for my friends at Facebook... in the UK, the Clegg style of interviewing plays well. I'm not really sure how to explain this but in the UK, the sort of stammering sounds like authentic thinking about what you're saying and being sincere and authentic...

• @yoda Drew Olanoff on x

  maybe facebook's communication plan shouldn't involve rolling out a fleet of policy people to speak on shit they don't work on or will ever truly understand (or care to!).

• @yoda Drew Olanoff on x

  Just pointing out the fact that Nick Clegg does not work on child safety or Instagram or research these issues and has no direct knowledge of the topic from his work at Facebook. https://twitter.com/...

• @ohhkaygo Kayla Gogarty on x

  Facebook only cares about good press and would rather mislead or even lie to the public instead of actually addressing the platform's serious problems

• @lloydhardy Lloyd🛡️Hardy on x

  Nick Clegg manages to not answer that Facebook's algorithm really did amplify the Capitol Riots by saying they don't know what the algorithms do but they do know they don't do things that people say they do but maybe to individuals but he knows they can't know. Which means Yes. h…

• @swodinsky Shoshana Wodinsky on x

  what kind of a fucking question is this lol https://twitter.com/...

• @swodinsky Shoshana Wodinsky on x

  when tech becomes a part of the Political Broadcast Zeitgeist, you don't get away w saying “algorithm” or “amplification” like they're magical catch-alls anymore. Be specific!! Ask what you mean!!! You're a *journalist*!!!!!

• @szhang_ds @szhang_ds on x

  Social media has created a world where people get attention by adhering to the public zeitgeist and making unnuanced emotional soundbites. No surprise that the public criticism of FB that gets attention is the same. It's not ideal, but also ironic. Hoist by their own petard? http…

• @cwarzel Charlie Warzel on x

  @szhang_ds from your vantage, what would be a good question here for him (genuinely curious and earnest here!)

• @szhang_ds @szhang_ds on x

  @cwarzel The questions that I've been asking haven't gotten people to pay attention. I can make technically interesting and nuanced questions, but journalists also need publicity and attention. Not surprising that people notice nuance doesn't work and instead iterate on what does…

• @mehdirhasan Mehdi Hasan on x

  Nick Clegg went from providing cover for David Cameron to providing cover for Mark Zuckerberg and he was amply rewarded for both. https://twitter.com/...

• @marietjeschaake Marietje Schaake on x

  1) Thousands of Facebook algorithms 2) FB can deny more easily what it doesn't choose to measure 3) new challenge for regulators, as the space to regulate is more fluid than in other sectors ↘️ https://twitter.com/...

• @erinisaway Erin Taylor on x

  the fact this guy tried to call algorithms “spam filters” really reminds you he has a reason to downplay algorithmic violence and increased misinfo due to algorithms lol https://twitter.com/...

• @sifill_ldf Sherrilyn Ifill on x

  As though the fact that he can't give a yes or no answer isn't itself damning. https://twitter.com/...

• @jgreenblattadl Jonathan Greenblatt on x

  Facebook's VP Nick Clegg's inability to answer this question about Facebook's algorithm amplifying Jan. 6th pro-insurrection content is deeply troubling. We need regulation and reform to put people over profit and #REPAIRTheInternet. https://twitter.com/...

• @repkenbuck Rep. Ken Buck on x

  My suggestion is that Congress passes antitrust reform to actually hold Facebook accountable. https://twitter.com/...

• @dwstweets Debbie Wasserman Schultz on x

  .@nickclegg Playing word games by suggesting that “removing” @Facebook's algorithms would make it more likely that people see hate speech is like telling a woman that she's more likely to get pregnant if she uses birth control. https://thehill.com/... #facebookwhistleblower

• @hypervisible @hypervisible on x

  Arsonist will nudge you to move to another room in burning building. https://www.reuters.com/...

• @yaeleisenstat Yael Eisenstat on x

  I don't believe press should invite Clegg again until he agrees to share the interview w/ one of FB's “critics”, but at least @DanaBashCNN pressed him on this crucial point. Frankly, it's time to stop giving PR time & insist on data access for Congress & academics to investigate.…

• @annagronewold Anna Gronewold on x

  if we know anything about teens, it's that they respond *great* to “this might be bad for you” messaging https://twitter.com/...

• @johnwilson John Wilson on x

  Less politics will be healthier for everyone, and also diminish media importance as well. https://twitter.com/...

• @moonalice Roger McNamee on x

  Before you get excited about this FB announcement, remember kids are on Insta (not FB). Insta was architected to create envy (due to filters, influencers). You cannot fix harm with “nudges.” You have to change architecture, design. Not going to happen. https://www.reuters.com/...

• @sifill_ldf Sherrilyn Ifill on x

  Closing the barn door...... https://twitter.com/...

• @moonalice Roger McNamee on x

  Among the problems with algorithm discussion: fact that there are many algos (sometimes w/ conflicting objectives), that algo-driven biz model optimized for attention will inevitably amplify fear/outrage, and that on FB, much of harm is from recommendation engines and FB Groups h…

• @amyklobuchar Amy Klobuchar on x

  I am so tired of hearing “trust us” from Facebook and social platforms. The time for talk is over, we need action. https://twitter.com/...

• @rachelmetz Rachel Metz on x

  This — particularly the idea of transparency — is exactly what the experts I quoted in my piece today argue for. Facebook's success was built on algorithms. Can they also fix it? https://www.cnn.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @emmalbriant @emmalbriant on x

  This is getting conflated, frustrating - algorithmic decision making about what to show you, is not the same as *content itself*. Algorithms are also based on data which can be protected and restricted with privacy legislation. None of this means taking down negative information.…

• @yoda Drew Olanoff on x

  I'd like to hear from someone who didn't actively work on getting Trump elected. https://twitter.com/...

• @cwarzel Charlie Warzel on x

  i think i just generally recoil at the Facebook issue becoming a core political cable news subject. hard to imagine a worse forum for an extremely complicated, technical problem

• @cwarzel Charlie Warzel on x

  this is probably not a popular point and Clegg is using it as a shitty dodge but also the question is not all that good...i basically think conversations like this one are pretty worthless! question is too broad and answer is disingenuous (and technically probably also right!) ht…

• @jilliancyork Chillian J. Yikes on x

  Excellent piece from @daphnek @jkosseff. I'd add that Haugen's policy recommendations center the US far too much, which is simply misguided in an era in which Americans are a minority on these platforms. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

• @mmasnick Mike Masnick on x

  Everyone who says they have an easy solution to misinformation online is required to read this (and admit they don't have an easy solution). https://twitter.com/...

• @davewiner Dave Winer on x

  You know why I prefer Facebook over journalism? At least I, as a human being, have a role in Facebook. Sure I'm just one of 2.7 billion, but at least I'm one. When it comes to journalism, I'm zero.

• @tdechant Tim De Chant on x

  Nice try, dev dude https://twitter.com/...

• @rmac18 @rmac18 on x

  Publicly, Facebook's execs have tried to undermine the credibility of whistle-blower @FrancesHaugen. But internally, the company is in full crisis management mode, distributing talking points & holding informational meetings to calm employees. Our latest: https://www.nytimes.com/…

• @yoda Drew Olanoff on x

  a company that collectively doesn't understand how to interact with human beings trying to “calm” human beings is a hoot https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  Thanksgiving is soon: Company officials have also provided information on how employees should respond when they are “asked questions about recent events by friends and family,” according to one memo. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @alistairmbarr Alistair Barr on x

  Facebook employees recount a week of turmoil. “It reinforced the feeling, you can't win no matter what you do. They hate us, but hate us when we're gone.” https://www.businessinsider.com/ ... via @businessinsider @robaeprice @HaysKali @MeghanEMorris

• @corsent @corsent on x

  In addition to the blatant sexism here, it's worth noting that it's common for opponents of reform to cite their adversaries' purported lack of technical expertise (e.g. gun control debate). https://twitter.com/...

• @losowsky Andrew Losowsky on x

  Then let us all agree that Nick Clegg is clueless and his words should always be disqualified https://twitter.com/...

• @laurieontech Laurie on x

  Oh you think you're qualified to consider the ethical impacts of the platform we build? Tell me how a tokenizer works. (This is so many levels of nonsense I can't. And perhaps consider that it's the insistence of focusing only on low level code that got us into this situation) ht…

• @hackingbutlegal Jackie on x

  Standard whistleblower treatment. Attempts to discredit the messenger. Their characters impugned and maligned. Their expertise and experiences questioned. Sounds a lot like the treatment of women who report rape. “She didn't say no” https://twitter.com/...

• @lourdesturrecha @lourdesturrecha on x

  This Facebook engineer doesn't know how basic ethics works. His quote should be stricken from this article. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @blackamazon @blackamazon on x

  This would be less funny if this wasn't how every single response to women who break something on harassment was treated https://twitter.com/...

• @jathansadowski Jathan Sadowski on x

  Technocrats have, for a very very long time, used arbitrary tests of technical knowledge as a way to discredit anybody from commenting on, let alone challenging, technology. Funny how it never goes the other way. They revel in their naivety about history, politics, society, etc. …

• @_alialkhatib Ali Alkhatib on x

  i bet someone's written about this intersection of misogyny & engineering (bro) culture that fixates on the pettiest, most inconsequential technical pebbles they can latch onto & use to categorically dismiss women and particularly women of color when they critique these systems. …

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  here's a new story from me, @RMac18 and @sheeraf on the decidedly mixed feelings about whistleblower Frances Haugen inside of Facebook — “good! Bad! So-so!” — and how company execs are attempting to contain it https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  This is Facebook comms sending a message to employees saying disparaging the whistleblower is “not who we are as a company” knowing full-well Facebook comms itself has been attacking the whistleblower.

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  Hypocrites for the ages. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @yaeleisenstat Yael Eisenstat on x

  @RMac18 @FrancesHaugen “Disparaging her personally is not right, it's not allowed, and it's not who we are as a company,” Ms. Saul wrote. Did Andy Stone get that memo? 🤣

• @stellaparton Stella Parton on x

  @MollyJongFast @FrancesHaugen She will be happy she spoke out in the future. regardless of how Facebook is trying to discredit her.

• @mollyjongfast Molly Jong-Fast on x

  You know Facebook is freaked which sort of proves @FrancesHaugen is telling the truth https://twitter.com/...