{"id":596357,"date":"2023-11-02T15:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T12:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/i-blew-the-whistle-on-facebook-two-years-later-big-tech-hasnt-changed\/"},"modified":"2023-11-02T15:15:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T12:15:00","slug":"i-blew-the-whistle-on-facebook-two-years-later-big-tech-hasnt-changed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/i-blew-the-whistle-on-facebook-two-years-later-big-tech-hasnt-changed\/","title":{"rendered":"#I blew the whistle on Facebook. Two years later, Big Tech hasn\u2019t changed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/facebook_meta_whistleblower_10252021_AP_.jpg?w=900\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>On Tuesday, a bipartisan coalition of\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/technology\/2023\/10\/24\/meta-lawsuit-facebook-instagram-children-mental-health\/\">41 state attorneys general<\/a>\u00a0established it is time to hold Big Tech accountable for the tragedy <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social media<\/a> has created concerning our children. If the evidence supporting kids\u2019 online safety is so strong that it can bring together states that rarely agree on anything, why are all legislative efforts stymied?<\/p>\n<p>The answer is unsurprising \u2014 Big Tech has repeatedly and loudly stated in public that it\u2019s time to regulate social media, while privately\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/technology\/2023\/05\/03\/big-tech-lobby-children-safety\/\">funding<\/a>\u00a0trade lobbying groups that sue the states that try.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Facebook, which updated its company name\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/help\/1561485474074139\">to Meta<\/a>\u00a0in 2022, and Google like to present themselves as champions of online protection for children and teens.\u00a0With fanfare, they announce new principles,<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/about.meta.com\/actions\/safety\">\u00a0safety centers<\/a>\u00a0and<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/outreach-initiatives\/public-policy\/google-legislation-framework-children-teens-safety\/amp\/\">\u00a0legislative frameworks<\/a>. Meta even recently expressed their supposed dedication to\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/about.fb.com\/news\/2023\/01\/providing-safe-experiences-for-teens\/\">age-appropriate<\/a>\u00a0online protections for kids. But these are nothing more than a distraction.<\/p>\n<p>As someone who has witnessed the inner workings of Big Tech up close, and whose\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commerce.senate.gov\/services\/files\/FC8A558E-824E-4914-BEDB-3A7B1190BD49\">revelations<\/a>\u00a0from my time at Facebook helped spark this week\u2019s lawsuit against them for violating children\u2019s privacy, I call foul. Both Meta and Google\u2019s vocal protestations that they want age-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate regulation come at a time when the trade group acting in their name, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/netchoice.org\/litigation\/\">NetChoice<\/a>, is wreaking havoc on landmark legislation that would enshrine just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Meta, Google: you can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n<p>NetChoice, despite its innocuous-seeming name, is a juggernaut. They\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/netchoice.org\/about\/#our-mission\">represent<\/a>\u00a0a who\u2019s who of tech, including Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, Snap, Yahoo and Lyft to name a few. NetChoice, along with another fellow tech trade association, the\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ccianet.org\/news\/2021\/09\/ccia-netchoice-file-lawsuit-against-unconstitutional-texas-social-media-law\/\">Computer &amp; Communications Industry Association<\/a>, have brought or joined several lawsuits this past year aiming to block online privacy protections passed in states, stalling what little progress we\u2019ve seen. In the case of the Age Appropriate Design Code, they have\u00a0blocked\u00a0a framework nearly identical to one in the United Kingdom that is\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/for-organisations\/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources\/childrens-information\/childrens-code-guidance-and-resources\/introduction-to-the-childrens-code\/#:~:text=The%20Children's%20code%20(or%20the,to%20protect%20children's%20data%20online.\">already in force<\/a>\u00a0and with which their member companies are complying.<\/p>\n<p>NetChoice and other tech lobbying groups have poured money into blocking privacy legislation in states and D.C. This includes advocating against legislation created with an emphasis on safe design practices across the platforms most used by young people.<\/p>\n<p>The bipartisan group of attorneys <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a> who filed a joint suit against Meta accused them of deceptive practices and harmful design leading to the mental health crisis facing kids in our country. Hundreds of kids and their families\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2023\/oct\/24\/instagram-lawsuit-meta-sued-teen-mental-health-us#:~:text=Early%20this%20year%2C%20lawyers%20representing,That%20case%20is%20ongoing.\">have filed suits<\/a>\u00a0for physical and mental harm caused by the addictive nature and harmful algorithms on Instagram and other platforms, not to mention\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/schools-sue-social-media-platforms-over-alleged-harms-to-students-ebca91a5?s=31\">hundreds of school districts<\/a>. Big Tech is making lots of enemies and still, they refuse to admit any fault or make any change.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>From my time at Meta, I know firsthand the ethical and moral responsibilities that tech companies bear regarding their impact on society, especially when it comes to children and teenagers. These companies claim there\u2019s nothing more they can do without ruining the internet as we know it, but the reality is there are lots of things they can do. And the reason they haven\u2019t done them is because it makes them less profitable. Not unprofitable, just less profitable. And no company has the right to subsidize their profits by sacrificing our children\u2019s physical and mental well-being.<\/p>\n<p>We need comprehensive legislation that addresses the dangers children face in the digital age. It is essential that we see Google\u2019s legislative proposals and Meta\u2019s safety protocols as a starting point for dialogue, not the end of the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>We must ask whether calls for child protection are genuine or merely another calculated move in a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a> where profits and public image reign supreme. Our children\u2019s safety deserves more than hollow promises and half-hearted gestures. It\u2019s time for Google, Meta and other tech giants to act with sincerity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>YouTube\u2019s CEO Neal Mohan<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.youtube\/inside-youtube\/youtubes-principled-approach-children-teenagers\/\">\u00a0put it this way last week<\/a>: \u201cWe need a clear regulatory blueprint for the policies and services needed from websites and platforms across the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s do it. Big Tech: Call off your attack dogs or leave them behind.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frances Haugen is a former Meta employee who, in 2021, came forward as a Facebook whistleblower.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/technology\/4287305-i-blew-the-whistle-on-facebook-two-years-later-big-tech-hasnt-changed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Tuesday, a bipartisan coalition of\u00a041 state attorneys general\u00a0established it is time to hold Big Tech accountable for the tragedy social media has created concerning our children. If the evidence supporting kids\u2019 online safety is so strong that it can bring together states that rarely agree on anything, why are all legislative efforts stymied? The&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":596358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/facebook_meta_whistleblower_10252021_AP_.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[122306,104331,134343,146746,10574,146747,118029,124783,134351,71525,141939,4965],"class_list":["post-596357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-meta","tag-big-tech","tag-campaign","tag-criticism-of-facebook","tag-education","tag-facebook-whistleblower","tag-frances-haugen","tag-international","tag-morning-report","tag-national-security","tag-politics-of-the-united-states","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596357"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596357\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/596358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}