Facebook Oversight Board to meet with whistleblower over her 'serious claims'
The former Facebook employee who testified before Congress last week is now set to meet with the company's Oversight Board to discuss her allegations.
Facebook's Oversight Board, an independent body to which the platform's content moderation decisions can be appealed, said Monday that whistleblower Frances Haugen has accepted an invitation to meet "over the coming weeks." The board said it extended this invitation to Haugen "in light of the serious claims" she has made about Facebook.
Haugen came forward in an interview with 60 Minutes following a series of damning reports on the company from The Wall Street Journal based on documents she provided, including one alleging that Facebook's research suggests Instagram is harmful for many young users. Haugen subsequently testified before Congress, alleging the company has chosen to grow at the expense of users' safety and that its products "harm children, stoke division, and weaken our democracy."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"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 through our case decisions and recommendations," the Oversight Board said.
One of the reports from the Journal suggested Facebook misled the Oversight Board regarding a cross-check system it uses that allegedly protects high-profile users from its enforcement process. On Monday, the board said its looking into whether Facebook "has been fully forthcoming" in its answers. "Facebook has lied to the board repeatedly, and I am looking forward to sharing the truth with them," Haugen tweeted.
Meanwhile, Facebook's vice president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said on Sunday the company plans to implement new safety features in the wake of the whistleblower's allegations, including one that would "nudge" teenagers away from Instagram content that "may not be conducive to their wellbeing," as well as another "prompting teens to simply just take a break from using Instagram."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published