Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes blame in Congress
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg. The company hired Definers Public Affairs to help it deal with fallout from revelations of Russian disinformation on its platform. PHOTO | BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI | AFP
What you need to know:
- Mark Zuckerberg faced tough questions on privacy of the platform from a joint hearing of the US Senate’s Commerce and Judiciary committees.
The social media site is also struggling to deal with fake news and alleged foreign interference in elections.
AND Agencies
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was on Tuesday grilled by the US Senate committees over claims that a data firm reportedly used Facebook information to influence voters in the 2016 United States presidential elections.
The 33-year-old internet mogul also faced tough questions on privacy of the platform from a joint hearing of the US Senate’s Commerce and Judiciary committees.
The hearings, which came weeks after news broke that Cambridge Analytica, a data firm with ties to President Donald Trump's campaign, reportedly accessed information from 87 million Facebook users without their consent. US social media companies could face new regulations.
FAKE NEWS
In his opening remarks Mr Zuckerberg said: "It is clear now that we didn't do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well…That goes for fake news, for foreign interference and hate speech."
"We didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake. It was my mistake, and I'm sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I'm responsible for what happens here."
The social media site is also struggling to deal with fake news and alleged foreign interference in elections. In September, it was disclosed that Russians, using fake names, used the social network to try to influence US voters in the months before and after the 2016 election. They wrote about inflammatory subjects, set up events and bought ads.
SOWING DISCORD
In February, US, Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians and three Russian companies with interfering in the election by sowing discord on social media.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin made the point of asking Zuckerberg to share some personal information.
"Mr. Zuckerberg would you be comfortable sharing with us the name of the hotel you stayed in last night?" Durbin asked.
"Uh, no," Zuckerberg responded, similarly declining to give details on his private messages.
"I think that might be what this is all about," Durbin said. "Your right to privacy, the limits of your right to privacy and how much you give away in modern America in the name of 'connecting people around the world.’"
Zuckerberg argued that Facebook gives users control over who sees the content they post.
