Facebook Whistleblower Accuses Platform of ‘Fanning Ethnic Violence’ in Myanmar and Ethiopia

Facebook Whistleblower Accuses Platform of ‘Fanning Ethnic Violence’ in Myanmar and Ethiopia
Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen testifies during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing entitled 'Protecting Kids Online: Testimony from a Facebook Whistleblower' on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 5, 2021. Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Images
Isabel van Brugen
Updated:

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen during Tuesday’s Senate hearing cited ethnic violence in Myanmar and Ethiopia as examples of the “destructive impact” that the social media platform has had on society.

The former Facebook employee suggested before lawmakers that there is a link between Facebook activity and the violence in the regions. The social media platform’s algorithms facilitate hate, Haugen said, and therefore put profit before user safety.
Isabel van Brugen
Isabel van Brugen
Reporter
Isabel van Brugen is an award-winning journalist. She holds a master's in newspaper journalism from City, University of London.
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