Megyn Kelly wonders if she can sue over fake Facebook Trending article


If you happened to read over the weekend that Megyn Kelly was fired from Fox News because she's backing Hillary Clinton, she wanted you to know on Tuesday's Kelly File that neither of those things are true and that she may be able to sue for libel. Don't worry, Mark Zuckerberg. "I have no desire to sue Facebook, nor anybody else, because I really don't like lawsuits," Kelly told her two lawyer guests. "Which is ironic, since I was a lawyer for nine years, but you know, that's what it does to you."
But she did strongly suggest that Facebook rehire its Trending curators — last weekend was the first time Facebook allowed its algorithms to run its Trending feature, sidelining the human editors. ("So once again, Mark, the rhythm method fails," she quipped to one of the lawyers, Mark Eiglarsh.) And she wanted to know if "a regular person who isn't on TV every night and doesn't have the ability to show people it's a lie" could sue Facebook, if Trending targeted him or her with a false story. Eiglarsh said probably not, because of having to prove "malicious intent," but fellow lawyer Andell Brown was more bullish on a lawsuit. Either way, expect Facebook to tinker with Trending again soon, and you can watch Kelly's discussion below. Peter Weber
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
July 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include new TSA rules, FEMA cuts, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy complimenting Donald Trump's new wardrobe
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off