Why Facebook Is Like A Tobacco Company, Denying Its Harms – Former Exployee Frances Haugen

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 Osazuwa Akonedo No Comments

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Former Facebook product manager on Civic Misinformation, Frances Haugen will today appear before United States of America Senate committee to hear the Instagram’s harm to teen girls.

Frances Haugen, a whistleblower who had earlier confided and provided the documents that backed up a Wall Street Journal investigation appeared on CBS 60 minutes programme on Sunday night to reveal her identity.

Less than a day after Frances Haugen appearance and few hours to her presentation before the Senate, Facebook and its subsidiaries; Instagram, WhatsApp went off from the internet around 5 pm Nigeria time for a reason yet to be ascertained.

The three social media platforms were restored after 6 hours at about 11 pm Nigeria time on Monday night.

Though, the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg apologized to users over the services’ disruption, but the cause of the disruption was not stated; “Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger are coming back online now. Sorry for the disruption today — I know how much you rely on our services to stay connected with the people you care about”, Mark Zuckerberg tendered apology.

The Facebook former employee, Frances Haugen in a prepared testimony she will present before the Senate subcommittee today, Haugen said Facebook is liken to tobacco campanies which for decades denied that smoking damaged health, adding, Facebook Executives always choose profits over user safety.

“When we realized tobacco companies were hiding the harms it caused, the government took action. When we figured out cars were safer with seatbelts, the government took action. I implore you to do the same here.”

“The company’s leadership knows ways to make Facebook and Instagram safer and won’t make the necessary changes because they have put their immense profits before people. Congressional action is needed.

Picture shows Facebook former employee, Frances Haugen

“As long as Facebook is operating in the dark, it is accountable to no one. And it will continue to make choices that go against the common good.

“Facebook’s closed design means it has no oversight — even from its own Oversight Board, which is as blind as the public.”

“This inability to see into the actual systems of Facebook and confirm that Facebook’s systems work like they say is like the Department of Transportation regulating cars by watching them drive down the highway.

“Imagine if no regulator could ride in a car, pump up its wheels, crash test a car, or even know that seat belts could exist.

According to Haugen, Facebook had done too little to prevent its platform from being used by people planning violence.

“The result has been a system that amplifies division, extremism, and polarization — and undermining societies around the world. In some cases, this dangerous online talk has led to actual violence that harms and even kills people,” she said.

Facebook is yet to react to her claims.

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