How convenient that Facebook “whistleblower” Frances Haugen just gave the social network another excuse to crack down on conservative content.
In her congressional testimony Tuesday, Haugen, a data scientist, called on Congress to enact more regulations on her former employer to combat misinformation on the platform, saying the company puts profits over public safety.
At issue for Haugen is Facebook’s algorithm, which in 2018 the company changed to prioritize high-engagement content, thereby contributing — according to Haugen — to increased divisiveness and polarization among users. Haugen even went so far as to say that Facebook’s switching off of “safeguards” after the 2020 election led to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot.