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“We know that Facebook has 2.9 billion consumers. (…) Now, upon hearing another series of accusations against Facebook that in one way or another it is trying to manipulate devices that program certain user behavior, either to read comments more critics or to choose one or another product, a variety of ideas arise even here in Brussels, and perhaps, first of all, criticisms, ”said Petras Auštrevičius MEP on Info TV.
The politician recalled that Facebook is not the subject of criticism for the first time.
Recall the case of Cambridge analytica, where Facebook admitted to making distortions, including attempts to manipulate the elections. By the way, that story has also happened in Lithuania, we know who tried to take advantage of it here. Now we have a completely different story, the EP is already hearing the voices that a study is needed to answer some critical questions, ”said P. Auštrevičius.
I don’t think self-regulation is the most rational way
The MEP questioned whether self-regulation is the most appropriate form in this particular case.
“Self-regulation, in which I firmly believe, is one of the most rational regulatory methods. But you have to recognize that when it comes to a company that processes data and shapes people’s opinions, which practically implies the half of humanity, self-regulation is not the most appropriate way. There is a need for dialogue and to set a certain limit on what Facebook must do to prevent such things from happening, “said P. Auštrevičius.
According to the MEP, in a situation in which artificial intelligence makes it possible to advance further in determining people’s choices, in focusing their attention, in concentrating on certain things, transparency and clarity are needed in this area.
“The key question is whether consumer organizations, such as EU consumer associations, can get enough information and evidence that these quasi-automatic algorithms don’t collect too much information, target consumers and distort their initial choices,” he said P. Auštrevičius.
The informant’s testimony brought her down
As already reported, many long-standing concerns and criticisms of the platform’s policies appear to have been based on an internal Facebook investigation, the material of which was relayed to the services and the Wall Street Journal by former employee Frances Haugen.
From this material it can be concluded that Facebook knew that its products, including the social network Instagram, harm girls.
Mr. Haugen requested that the company be monitored. Facebook has proven time and time again that it chooses profit over safety. “She subsidizes – pays her earnings with our security,” he warned.
“The version of Facebook that exists today is disrupting our societies and inciting ethnic violence around the world,” he said. Facebook has worked diligently to crack down on allegations about the company’s practices and the impact of its social network, but the crisis is just one of many that have affected the company recently.
For years, US lawmakers have threatened to move to stricter oversight of Facebook and other major social networks, constantly charging that these platforms are undermining privacy, opening hands to spread dangerous misinformation, and harming the well-being of young people.
Such criticism has been voiced for a long time, but the laws related to social media monitoring have not been fundamentally changed, leading some experts to be skeptical about the possibility of change. “It’s a situation where there will be a lot of smoke, a lot of anger, but little action,” said Mark Hass, a professor at Arizona State University.
“You will have to take something from the platform itself, feeling the pressure of its users and employees,” he added.
According to Hasso, the government could not effectively regulate the content of social networks in any case. The chairman of Facebook’s board for political and international affairs, Nick Clegg, has vehemently denied allegations that the social network has become a “toxic” environment for teens, despite lawmakers asking the company on the impact of its measures on the mental health of young consumers a few days ago. earlier, at an hour-long meeting of the United States Congress.
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