The Facebook whistleblower at the center of the latest controversy for the social media giant appeared in front of Congress on Tuesday to give her testimony, raising questions about the danger of these platforms.
Frances Haugen testified and answered questions in front of the Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security subcommittee, primarily focusing on how the platform affects its youngest users in ways that are detrimental to their mental health. The 37-year-old is a former product manager for the company who worked on civic integrity issues. However, Facebook decided to dissolve the civic integrity department after the 2020 presidential election, causing Haugen to change her stance toward the company and its values.
In addition to Facebook, the company also runs Instagram. This platform is particularly popular with younger users.
Haugen started working for Facebook in 2019. Prior to this time, she had worked for other major entities in the Silicon Valley, including Google and Pinterest.
Opening Statement
Haugen offered a scathing opening statement, asserting that the company’s products and platforms are harmful to children while also weakening the nation’s Democratic processes by stoking division. Most damning for her former employer, Haugen said that the company’s leadership is aware of these problems that it creates, yet refuses to make the needed changes. Instead, Haugen contends that company leadership values profit over the well-being of its customers.
Haugen also reminded the committee that she came forward with these allegations “at great personal risk” to herself. She urged the committee to act now while there is still time. According to Haugen, Congress has the ability to change the rules surrounding social media, ending the danger that the platforms pose to consumers.
Haugen Going to the Media
This is not the first time in recent days that Haugen has appeared in front of millions. On Sunday evening, her identity as the Facebook whistleblower was revealed in an interview on “60 Minutes.” She had previously presented the evidence of wrongdoing by Facebook to the Wall Street Journal. The publication used the documents to detail how much Facebook knew about the problems that its apps created, including the dissemination of misinformation and the harm it caused its youngest and most vulnerable users.
The avalanche of information came when Haugen filed at least eight complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last month. The complaints alleged that Facebook is concealings its research about its problems from public records, the media, and investors.
Facebook Reaction
It did not take long for Facebook to issue a response following Haugen’s testimony. The company’s statement was an attempt to cast doubt on Haugen’s testimony by pointing out that she had only worked for the company for less than two years. Facebook also said that she had no direct reports and never was a part of important meetings with the company’s C-level executives.
The statement was part of a tweet by spokesperson Andy Stone. The company also said that it agrees that now is the time to begin to implement industry standards for the internet.
Later on Tuesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also responded to the testimony, publishing a lengthy statement on his personal Facebook page. In the statement, Zuckerberg said that tech companies have an obligation to build positive online experiences that also work to keep them safe.
Senate Reaction
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, chair of the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, said that he was grateful to Haugen for standing up to the powerful Facebook. He also admonished the company, saying that the damage that it has caused will “haunt a generation.”
Blumenthal said that it is clear that Facebook cannot be trusted to police its own policies, necessitating that the government implements stronger oversight and protections for children in the social media space. Lastly, Blumenthal signaled that Facebook’s effect on issues of national security may be brought to a future subcommittee.
Tumultuous Week for Facebook
It has not been an easy week for Facebook and its partner apps. The morning after the “60 Minutes” bombshell, the Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram platforms all went down for approximately six hours. According to Santosh Janardhan, vice president of infrastructure, the outage was the result of a technical error.
While many people lamented not being able to access the social network and all of its entertainment options, the outage was more detrimental to the many small businesses that rely on the network to operate.
Experts agree that while Facebook has been able to largely weather controversies in the past, this time may be different for the leading social media platform.
