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Do not fill this in! == Criticisms and controversies == {{Main|Criticism of Facebook}} {{quote box |width=33% |author={{mdash}}[[Frances Haugen]], condemning lack of transparency around Facebook at a [[Us congress|US congressional hearing]] (2021).<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook whistleblower hearing: Frances Haugen calls for more regulation of tech giant – live updates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/live/2021/oct/05/facebook-hearing-whistleblower-frances-haugen-testifies-us-senate-latest-news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211005200002/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/live/2021/oct/05/facebook-hearing-whistleblower-frances-haugen-testifies-us-senate-latest-news?page=with:block-615c55448f083d2ce2634c5a%23liveblog-navigation |archive-date=October 5, 2021 |date=October 5, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=October 5, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> |quote="I'm here today because I believe Facebook's products harm children, stoke division, and weaken our democracy. The company's leadership knows how to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won't make the necessary changes because they have put their astronomical profits before people." }} {{quote box |width=33% |author={{mdash}}Mark Zuckerberg, responding to [[Frances Haugen]]'s revelations (2021).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg says whistleblower's claims that Facebook places profit over people 'don't make any sense.' Read his full response to the whistleblower's testimony. |date=October 6, 2021 |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-whistleblower-claims-dont-make-sense-2021-10 |via=businessinsider.com |first=Isobel Asher |last=Hamilton}}</ref> |quote="I don't believe private companies should make all of the decisions on their own. That's why we have advocated for updated internet regulations for several years now. I have testified in Congress multiple times and asked them to update these regulations. I've written op-eds outlining the areas of regulation we think are most important related to elections, harmful content, privacy, and competition."}} Facebook's importance and scale has led to criticisms in many domains. Issues include [[Internet privacy]], excessive retention of user information,<ref>{{cite news|first=Maria|last=Aspen|title=How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212190105/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html |archive-date=February 12, 2008 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 11, 2008|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> its [[Facial recognition system|facial recognition]] software, [[DeepFace]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Sebastian|last=Anthony|title=Facebook's facial recognition software is now as accurate as the human brain, but what now?|url=http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/178777-facebooks-facial-recognition-software-is-now-as-accurate-as-the-human-brain-but-what-now|website=[[ExtremeTech]]|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Liz|last=Gannes|title=Facebook facial recognition prompts EU privacy probe|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-facial-recognition-prompts-eu-privacy-probe/|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> its addictive quality<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/billrobinson/facebook-the-worlds-bigge_b_4585457.html|title=Facebook: The World's Biggest Waste of Time?|last=Robinson|first=Bill|date=February 10, 2014|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref> and its role in the workplace, including employer access to employee accounts.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Friedman|title=Bill to ban companies from asking about job candidates' Facebook accounts is headed to governor|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/bill_to_ban_companies_from_req.html|website=[[NJ.com]]|publisher=[[Advance Digital]]|date=March 21, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> Facebook has been criticized for electricity usage,<ref>{{cite web|first=Robin|last=Wauters|title=Greenpeace Slams Zuckerberg For Making Facebook A "So Coal Network" (Video)|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/16/greenpeace-slams-zuckerberg-for-making-facebook-a-so-coal-network-video/|website=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=September 16, 2010|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> tax avoidance,<ref>{{cite web|first=Rupert|last=Neate|title=Facebook paid £2.9m tax on £840m profits made outside US, figures show|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/23/facebook-tax-profits-outside-us|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=December 23, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> real-name user requirement policies,<ref>{{cite web|first=Emanuella|last=Grinberg|title=Facebook 'real name' policy stirs questions around identity|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/16/living/facebook-name-policy|website=[[CNN]]|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> censorship<ref>{{cite web|first=Vidhi|last=Doshi|title=Facebook under fire for 'censoring' Kashmir-related posts and accounts|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/19/facebook-under-fire-censoring-kashmir-posts-accounts|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Arrington|author-link=Michael Arrington|title=Is Facebook Really Censoring Search When It Suits Them?|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/11/22/is-facebook-really-censoring-search-when-it-suits-them/|website=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=November 22, 2007|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> and its involvement in the United States [[PRISM (surveillance program)|PRISM surveillance program]].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Glenn|last1=Greenwald|first2=Ewen|last2=MacAskill|title=NSA Prism program taps in to user data of Apple, Google and others|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> According to ''[[The Express Tribune]]'', Facebook "avoided billions of dollars in tax using offshore companies".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1550750/3-paradise-papers-reveal-hidden-wealth-global-elite/|title=Paradise Papers reveal hidden wealth of global elite|date=November 6, 2017|work=[[The Express Tribune]]}}</ref> Facebook is alleged to have harmful psychological effects on its users, including feelings of jealousy<ref>{{cite web|title=How Facebook Breeds Jealousy|url=https://www.seeker.com/how-facebook-breeds-jealousy-1765020296.html|website=[[Seeker (media company)|Seeker]]|publisher=[[Group Nine Media]]|date=February 10, 2010|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Matyszczyk|title=Study: Facebook makes lovers jealous|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/study-facebook-makes-lovers-jealous/|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=August 11, 2009|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> and stress,<ref>{{cite web|first=Chenda|last=Ngak|title=Facebook may cause stress, study says|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-may-cause-stress-study-says/|website=[[CBS News]]|publisher=[[CBS]]|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Smith|title=Quitting Facebook will make you happier and less stressed, study says|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/quitting-facebook-will-make-you-happier-and-less-stressed-study-2015-11|website=[[Business Insider]]|publisher=Axel Springer SE|date=November 13, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> a lack of attention<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael J.|last=Bugeja|title=Facing the Facebook|url=http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/01/2006012301c/careers.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220193743/http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/01/2006012301c/careers.html|website=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=January 23, 2006|archive-date=February 20, 2008|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> and [[social media addiction]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Hough|title=Student 'addiction' to technology 'similar to drug cravings', study finds|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8436831/Student-addiction-to-technology-similar-to-drug-cravings-study-finds.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8436831/Student-addiction-to-technology-similar-to-drug-cravings-study-finds.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=April 8, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook and Twitter 'more addictive than tobacco and alcohol'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9054243/Facebook-and-Twitter-more-addictive-than-tobacco-and-alcohol.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216152536/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9054243/Facebook-and-Twitter-more-addictive-than-tobacco-and-alcohol.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2015|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=February 1, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> According to Kaufmann et al., mothers' motivations for using social media are often related to their social and mental health.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kaufmann |first1=Renee |last2=Buckner |first2=Marjorie M. |last3=Ledbetter |first3=Andrew M. |date=August 3, 2017 |title=Having Fun on Facebook?: Mothers' Enjoyment as a Moderator of Mental Health and Facebook Use |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10410236.2016.1196513 |journal=Health Communication |language=en |volume=32 |issue=8 |pages=1014–1023 |doi=10.1080/10410236.2016.1196513 |pmid=27463860 |s2cid=25726659 |issn=1041-0236|url-access=subscription }}</ref> European antitrust regulator [[Margrethe Vestager]] stated that Facebook's terms of service relating to private data were "unbalanced".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Evan|last=Osnos|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/09/17/can-mark-zuckerberg-fix-facebook-before-it-breaks-democracy|title=Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy?|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=September 17, 2018<!--Issue yes, after the actual date of access-->|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> Facebook has been criticized for allowing users to publish illegal or offensive material. Specifics include [[copyright]] and [[intellectual property]] infringement,<ref>{{cite web|first=Ariha|last=Setalvad|title=Why Facebook's video theft problem can't last|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/7/9114149/facebook-freebooting-video-copyright-infringement|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|date=August 7, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> [[hate speech]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook, Twitter and Google grilled by MPs over hate speech|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39272261|website=[[BBC News]]|date=March 14, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Amar|last=Toor|title=Facebook will work with Germany to combat anti-refugee hate speech|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/9/15/9329119/facebook-germany-hate-speech-xenophobia-migrant-refugee|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|date=September 15, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> incitement of rape<ref>{{cite news|first=Philip|last=Sherwell|title=Cyber anarchists blamed for unleashing a series of Facebook 'rape pages'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8829165/Cyber-anarchists-blamed-for-unleashing-a-series-of-Facebook-rape-pages.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8829165/Cyber-anarchists-blamed-for-unleashing-a-series-of-Facebook-rape-pages.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=October 16, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and terrorism,<ref>{{cite web|title=20,000 Israelis sue Facebook for ignoring Palestinian incitement|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/20000-israelis-sue-facebook-for-ignoring-palestinian-incitement/|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Israel: Facebook's Zuckerberg has blood of slain Israeli teen on his hands|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-facebooks-zuckerberg-has-blood-of-slain-israeli-teen-on-his-hands/|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=July 2, 2016|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> [[fake news]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Samuel|last=Burke|title=Zuckerberg: Facebook will develop tools to fight fake news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/11/19/technology/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-fake-news-election/|website=[[CNN]]|date=November 19, 2016|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hillary Clinton says Facebook 'must prevent fake news from creating a new reality'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/05/31/hillary-clinton-says-facebook-must-prevent-fake-news-creating/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/05/31/hillary-clinton-says-facebook-must-prevent-fake-news-creating/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=June 1, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017|last=Staff|first=Our Foreign }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Seth|last=Fiegerman|title=Facebook's global fight against fake news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/09/technology/facebook-fake-news/index.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> and crimes, murders, and livestreaming violent incidents.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Emanuella|last1=Grinberg|first2=Samira|last2=Said|title=Police: At least 40 people watched teen's sexual assault on Facebook Live|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/us/facebook-live-gang-rape-chicago|website=[[CNN]]|date=March 22, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Emanuella|last=Grinberg|title=Chicago torture: Facebook Live video leads to 4 arrests|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/04/us/chicago-facebook-live-beating|website=[[CNN]]|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Aatif|last=Sulleyman|title=Facebook Live killings: Why the criticism has been harsh|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/facebook-live-killings-ai-artificial-intelligence-not-blame-fatalities-murders-us-steve-stephens-a7706056.html|website=[[The Independent]]|date=April 27, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> Commentators have accused Facebook of willingly facilitating the spread of such content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/facebook-spreads-viral-fake-news-story-about-vaccines-791331|title=Facebook Spreads Viral Fake News Story About Vaccines|first=Kastalia|last=Medrano|website=[[Newsweek]]|date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44809815|title=Facebook will not remove fake news – but will 'demote' it|work=[[BBC News]]|date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2019/forget-fake-news-stories-false-text-posts-are-getting-massive-engagement-on-facebook/|title=Forget fake news stories. False text posts are getting massive engagement on Facebook.|first=Daniel|last=Funke|website=[[Poynter Institute|Ponyter]]|date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> [[Sri Lanka]] blocked both Facebook and WhatsApp in May 2019 after [[2019 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka|anti-Muslim riots]], the worst in the country since the [[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings|Easter Sunday bombing]] in the same year as a temporary measure to maintain peace in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/sri-lanka-imposes-nationwide-curfew-after-anti-muslim-riots/articleshow/69311594.cms|title=Sri Lanka Riots: Sri Lanka imposes nationwide curfew after anti-Muslim riots |newspaper=Times of India|date=May 13, 2019 |agency=[[Reuters]]|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/asia/sri-lanka-blocks-social-media-after-worst-anti-muslim-violence-since-easter-sunday-attacks-1.860859|title=Sri Lanka blocks social media after worst anti-Muslim violence since Easter Sunday attacks|website=The National|date=May 13, 2019|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> Facebook removed 3 billion fake accounts only during the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019;<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90354777/facebooks-active-user-problem-how-many-maus-are-fake|title=Facebook catches 3 billion fake accounts, but the ones it misses are the real problem|last=Sullivan|first=Mark|website=Fast Company|date=May 23, 2019}}</ref> in comparison, the social network reports 2.39 billion monthly active users.<ref name="Sullivan" /> In late July 2019, the company announced it was under [[antitrust]] investigation by the [[Federal Trade Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cox|first=Kate|title=The FTC is investigating Facebook. Again|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/facebook-faces-new-anti-competition-investigation-as-privacy-probe-is-settled/|website=ars Technica|date=July 25, 2019|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> The consumer advocacy group, Which?, claims that individuals are still utilizing Facebook to set up fraudulent five-star ratings for various products. The group has identified 14 communities that exchange reviews for either money or complimentary items such as watches, earbuds, and sprinklers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65336369 |title=Facebook still being used to arrange fake reviews – Which? |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> === Privacy === {{Main|Privacy concerns with Facebook}} {{See also|Privacy concerns with social networking services#Facebook}} Facebook has faced a steady stream of controversies over how it handles user privacy, repeatedly adjusting its privacy settings and policies.<ref name="Ingram-2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-privacy-idUSKBN1H41KV|title=Facebook cuts ties to data brokers in blow to targeted ads|last1=Ingram|first1=David|date=March 29, 2018|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=February 5, 2019|last2=Fioretti|first2=Julia}}</ref> Since 2009, Facebook has been participating in the PRISM secret program, sharing with the US [[National Security Agency]] audio, video, photographs, e-mails, documents and connection logs from user profiles, among other social media services.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/30/us/nsa-social-networks/index.html|title=NSA mines Facebook, including Americans' profiles|last1=Simpson|first1=David|date=September 30, 2013|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 30, 2013|last2=Brown|first2=Pamela}}</ref><ref name="usa1">{{cite news |author1=Johnson, Kevin |author2=Martin, Scott |author3=O'Donnell, Jayne |author4=Winter, Michael |date=June 15, 2013 |title=Reports: NSA Siphons Data from 9 Major Net Firms |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607113440/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref> On November 29, 2011, Facebook settled [[Federal Trade Commission]] charges that it deceived consumers by failing to keep privacy promises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/11/privacysettlement.shtm|title=Facebook Settles FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers By Failing To Keep Privacy Promises|date=November 29, 2011|work=[[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]]|access-date=November 29, 2011}}</ref> In August 2013 [[High-Tech Bridge]] published a study showing that links included in Facebook messaging service messages were being accessed by Facebook.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.htbridge.com/news/social_networks_can_robots_violate_user_privacy.html|title=Social networks: can robots violate user privacy?|date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130903073506/https://www.htbridge.com/news/social_networks_can_robots_violate_user_privacy.html|archive-date=September 3, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref> In January 2014 two users filed a lawsuit against Facebook alleging that their privacy had been violated by this practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-sued-for-allegedly-intercepting-private-messages/|title=Facebook sued for allegedly intercepting private messages|last=Van Grove|first=Jennifer|date=January 2, 2014|website=[[CNet]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> On June 7, 2018, Facebook announced that a bug had resulted in about 14 million Facebook users having their default sharing setting for all new posts set to "public".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/07/technology/facebook-public-post-error/index.html|title=Facebook bug set 14 million users' sharing settings to public|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=June 7, 2018}}</ref> On April 4, 2019, half a billion records of Facebook users were found exposed on [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] cloud servers, containing information about users' friends, likes, groups, and checked-in locations, as well as names, passwords and email addresses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hackhex.com/security/millions-of-facebook-records-found-on-amazon-servers-5173.html|title=Millions of Facebook Records Found On Amazon Servers|date=April 4, 2019|website=Hack Hex|access-date=June 4, 2019|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604144710/https://hackhex.com/security/millions-of-facebook-records-found-on-amazon-servers-5173.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The phone numbers of at least 200 million Facebook users were found to be exposed on an open online database in September 2019. They included 133 million US users, 18 million from the UK, and 50 million from users in [[Vietnam]]. After removing duplicates, the 419 million records have been reduced to 219 million. The database went offline after TechCrunch contacted the web host. It is thought the records were amassed using a tool that Facebook disabled in April 2018 after the [[Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal|Cambridge Analytica]] controversy. A Facebook spokeswoman said in a statement: "The dataset is old and appears to have information obtained before we made changes last year...There is no evidence that Facebook accounts were compromised."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/04/facebook-users-phone-numbers-privacy-lapse|title=Facebook confirms 419 m phone numbers exposed in latest privacy lapse|date=September 5, 2019|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref> Facebook's privacy problems resulted in companies like [[Viber|Viber Media]] and [[Mozilla]] discontinuing advertising on Facebook's platforms.<ref>{{cite news | last = Reaz | first = Shaer | date = August 28, 2020 | title = Cutting ties with a giant: Viber CEO on Facebook relations and #StopHateForProfit | url = https://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/news/cutting-ties-giant-viber-ceo-facbook-relations-and-stophateforprofit-1952021 | work = [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] | access-date = September 27, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2020/06/24/were-proud-to-join-stophateforprofit/ |title=We're proud to join #StopHateForProfit |date=June 24, 2020 |website=[[Mozilla Corporation]] |publisher=[[Mozilla Foundation]] |access-date=September 27, 2020 }}</ref> In March 2024, a court in California released documents detailing Facebook's 2016 "Project Ghostbusters". The project was aimed at helping Facebook compete with [[Snapchat]] and involved Facebook trying to develop decryption tools to collect, decrypt, and analyze traffic that users generated when visiting Snapchat and, eventually, YouTube and Amazon. The company eventually used its tool [[Onavo]] to initiate man-in-the-middle attacks and read users' traffic before it was encrypted.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first1=Lorenzo |title=Facebook snooped on users' Snapchat traffic in secret project, documents reveal |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/26/facebook-secret-project-snooped-snapchat-user-traffic/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=March 26, 2024 |date=March 26, 2024}}</ref> ==== Racial bias ==== Facebook was accused of committing "systemic" racial bias by EEOC based on the complaints of three rejected candidates and a current employee of the company. The three rejected employees along with the Operational Manager at Facebook as of March 2021 accused the firm of discriminating against Black people. The EEOC has initiated an investigation into the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/05/facebook-systemic-racial-bias-hiring-eeoc-investigation|title=Facebook faces US investigation for 'systemic' racial bias in hiring|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=March 6, 2021}}</ref> ==== Shadow profiles ==== A "[[shadow profile]]" refers to the data Facebook collects about individuals without their explicit permission. For example, the [[Facebook like button#Tracking|"like" button]] that appears on third-party websites allows the company to collect information about an individual's internet browsing habits, even if the individual is not a Facebook user.<ref name="verge shadow profiles">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/11/17225482/facebook-shadow-profiles-zuckerberg-congress-data-privacy|title=Shadow profiles are the biggest flaw in Facebook's privacy defense|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=April 11, 2018|website=[[The Verge]]|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How Facebook can have your data even if you're not on Facebook|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2018/04/13/how-facebook-can-have-your-data-even-if-youre-not-facebook/512674002/}}</ref> Data can also be collected by other users. For example, a Facebook user can link their email account to their Facebook to find friends on the site, allowing the company to collect the email addresses of users and non-users alike.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/how-facebook-figures-out-everyone-youve-ever-met-1819822691|title=How Facebook Figures Out Everyone You've Ever Met|last=Hill|first=Kashmir|date=November 7, 2017|website=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Over time, countless data points about an individual are collected; any single data point perhaps cannot identify an individual, but together allows the company to form a unique "profile". This practice has been criticized by those who believe people should be able to opt-out of involuntary data collection. Additionally, while Facebook users have the ability to download and inspect the data they provide to the site, data from the user's "shadow profile" is not included, and non-users of Facebook do not have access to this tool regardless. The company has also been unclear whether or not it is possible for a person to revoke Facebook's access to their "shadow profile".<ref name="verge shadow profiles" /> ==== Cambridge Analytica ==== {{Main|Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal}} Facebook customer Global Science Research sold information on over 87 million Facebook users to Cambridge Analytica, a political data analysis firm led by [[Alexander Nix]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Paul|last2=Wong|first2=Julia Carrie|title=Facebook employs psychologist whose firm sold data to Cambridge Analytica|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=March 20, 2018|date=March 18, 2018|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/18/facebook-cambridge-analytica-joseph-chancellor-gsr}}</ref> While approximately 270,000 people used the app, Facebook's [[Application programming interface|API]] permitted data collection from their friends without their knowledge.<ref>{{cite web|last=Franceschi-Bicchierai|first=Lorenzo|title=Why We're Not Calling the Cambridge Analytica Story a 'Data Breach'|work=Motherboard|access-date=March 20, 2018|date=March 19, 2018|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/3kjzvk/facebook-cambridge-analytica-not-a-data-breach}}</ref> At first Facebook downplayed the significance of the breach, and suggested that Cambridge Analytica no longer had access. Facebook then issued a statement expressing alarm and suspended Cambridge Analytica. Review of documents and interviews with former Facebook employees suggested that Cambridge Analytica still possessed the data.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-trump-campaign.html|title=How Trump Consultants Exploited the Facebook Data of Millions|first1=Matthew|last1=Rosenberg|first2=Nicholas|last2=Confessore|first3=Carole|last3=Cadwalladr|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> This was a violation of Facebook's [[consent decree]] with the [[Federal Trade Commission]]. This violation potentially carried a penalty of $40,000 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|40000|2018}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) per occurrence, totalling trillions of dollars.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/03/18/facebook-may-have-violated-ftc-privacy-deal-say-former-federal-officials-triggering-risk-of-massive-fines/|title=Facebook may have violated FTC privacy deal, say former federal officials, triggering risk of massive fines|last1=Timberg|first1=Craig|date=March 18, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 25, 2018|last2=Romm|first2=Tony|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> According to ''The Guardian'', both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica threatened to sue the newspaper if it published the story. After publication, Facebook claimed that it had been "lied to". On March 23, 2018, The [[High Court of Justice|English High Court]] granted an application by the [[Information Commissioner's Office]] for a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica's London offices, ending a standoff between Facebook and the Information Commissioner over responsibility.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/23/uk-high-court-grants-cambridge-analytica-search-warrant-to-ico.html|title=UK High Court grants Cambridge Analytica search warrant to ICO|date=March 23, 2018|work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323222219/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/23/uk-high-court-grants-cambridge-analytica-search-warrant-to-ico.html|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 25, Facebook published a statement by Zuckerberg in major UK and US newspapers apologizing over a "breach of trust".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43532948|title=Facebook boss apologises in newspaper ads|date=March 25, 2018|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=March 25, 2018 }}</ref> {{blockquote|You may have heard about a quiz app built by a university researcher that leaked Facebook data of millions of people in 2014. This was a breach of trust, and I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time. We're now taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again. We've already stopped apps like this from getting so much information. Now we're limiting the data apps get when you sign in using Facebook. We're also investigating every single app that had access to large amounts of data before we fixed this. We expect there are others. And when we find them, we will ban them and tell everyone affected. Finally, we'll remind you which apps you've given access to your information – so you can shut off the ones you don't want anymore. Thank you for believing in this community. I promise to do better for you.}} On March 26, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] opened an investigation into the matter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ftc-facebook-investigation-confirmed-opened-facebook-stock-drops-futher-today/|title=Facebook stock rebounds after FTC investigation news|last=Ivanova|first=Irina|date=March 26, 2018|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> The controversy led Facebook to end its partnerships with data brokers who aid advertisers in targeting users.<ref name="Ingram-2018" /> On April 24, 2019, Facebook said it could face a fine between $3 billion (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|3000000000|2019}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) to $5 billion (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|5000000000|2019}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) as the result of an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/24/facebook-estimates-up-to-5-billion-loss-in-ftc-privacy-inquiry.html|title=Facebook estimates up to $5 billion loss in FTC privacy inquiry|last=Feiner|first=Lauren|date=April 24, 2019|website=www.cnbc.com|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> On July 24, 2019, the FTC fined Facebook $5 billion, the largest penalty ever imposed on a company for violating consumer privacy. Additionally, Facebook had to implement a new privacy structure, follow a 20-year settlement order, and allow the FTC to monitor Facebook.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2019 |title=FTC Imposes $5 Billion Penalty and Sweeping New Privacy Restrictions on Facebook |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-imposes-5-billion-penalty-sweeping-new-privacy-restrictions-facebook |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721213553/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-imposes-5-billion-penalty-sweeping-new-privacy-restrictions-facebook |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |access-date=August 12, 2023 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}</ref> Cambridge Analytica's CEO and a developer faced restrictions on future business dealings and were ordered to destroy any personal information they collected. Cambridge Analytica filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=FTC Sues Cambridge Analytica, Settles with Former CEO and App Developer |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-sues-cambridge-analytica-settles-former-ceo-app-developer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613132946/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-sues-cambridge-analytica-settles-former-ceo-app-developer |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2023 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}</ref> Facebook also implemented additional privacy controls and settings<ref name="guar1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/11/fact-checking-mark-zuckerberg-testimony-congress|title=Fact-checking Mark Zuckerberg's testimony about Facebook privacy|last=Solon|first=Olivia|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> in part to comply with the European Union's [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR), which took effect in May.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/04/zuckerberg-gdpr/|title=Zuckerberg says Facebook will offer GDPR privacy controls everywhere|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref> Facebook also ended its active opposition to the [[California Consumer Privacy Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/04/facebook-donated-200000-to-kill-a-privacy-law-but-now-its-backtracking/|title=Facebook exits anti-privacy alliance it formed with Comcast and Google|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=April 12, 2018|work=Ars Technica|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> Some, such as [[Meghan McCain]] have drawn an equivalence between the use of data by Cambridge Analytica and the [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|Barack Obama's 2012 campaign]], which, according to ''[[Investor's Business Daily]]'', "encouraged supporters to download an Obama 2012 Facebook app that, when activated, let the campaign collect Facebook data both on users and their friends."<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20190220020940/https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/facebook-data-scandal-trump-election-obama-2012/ Funny, When Obama Harvested Facebook Data On Millions Of Users To Win In 2012, Everyone Cheered]". ''[[Investor's Business Daily]]''. March 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="forbes.com">"[https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2018/03/19/why-are-we-only-now-talking-about-facebook-and-elections/ Why Are We Only Now Talking About Facebook And Elections?]". ''[[Forbes]]''. March 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="news.com.au">"[http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/former-obama-campaign-boss-reveals-how-they-could-access-creepy-facebook-data/news-story/5a275b7c9f540fc9542f5256e644e26e Former Facebook staffer, Obama campaign boss reveal concerns about Facebook data]". [[News.com.au]]. March 21, 2018.</ref> Carol Davidsen, the Obama for America (OFA) former director of integration and media analytics, wrote that "Facebook was surprised we were able to suck out the whole social graph, but they didn't stop us once they realised that was what we were doing".<ref name="forbes.com" /><ref name="news.com.au" /> [[PolitiFact]] has rated McCain's statements "Half-True", on the basis that "in Obama's case, direct users knew they were handing over their data to a political campaign" whereas with Cambridge Analytica, users thought they were only taking a personality quiz for academic purposes, and while the Obama campaign only used the data "to have their supporters contact their most persuadable friends", Cambridge Analytica "targeted users, friends and lookalikes directly with digital ads."<ref>{{cite web|title=Comparing Facebook data use by Obama, Cambridge Analytica|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/mar/22/meghan-mccain/comparing-facebook-data-use-obama-cambridge-analyt/|publisher=[[PolitiFact]]|access-date=May 24, 2019 }}</ref> ==== DataSpii ==== In July 2019, cybersecurity researcher Sam Jadali exposed a catastrophic data leak known as [[DataSpii]] involving data provider DDMR and marketing intelligence company Nacho Analytics (NA).<ref name="Fowler-2019">{{Cite news |last=Fowler |first=Geoffrey A. |date=July 19, 2019 |title=Perspective {{!}} I found your data. It's for sale. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/18/i-found-your-data-its-sale/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=July 18, 2019 |title=My browser, the spy: How extensions slurped up browsing histories from 4M users |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/07/dataspii-inside-the-debacle-that-dished-private-data-from-apple-tesla-blue-origin-and-4m-people/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> Branding itself as the "God mode for the internet," NA through DDMR, provided its members access to private Facebook photos and Facebook Messenger attachments including tax returns.<ref name="Jadali-2019">{{Cite web |last=Jadali |first=Sam |date=July 18, 2019 |title=DataSpii – A global catastrophic data leak via browser extensions |url=https://securitywithsam.com/2019/07/dataspii-leak-via-browser-extensions/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |website=Security with Sam |language=en-US}}</ref> DataSpii harvested data from millions of Chrome and Firefox users through compromised browser extensions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2019 |title=Google, Firefox Browser Extensions Expose Data of 4 Million People |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/privacy/google-firefox-browser-extensions-expose-personal-data-a2138132661/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |website=Consumer Reports |language=en-US}}</ref> The NA website stated it collected data from millions of opt-in users. Jadali, along with journalists from ''Ars Technica'' and ''The Washington Post'', interviewed impacted users, including a ''Washington Post'' staff member. According to the interviews, the impacted users did not consent to such collection. DataSpii demonstrated how a compromised user exposed the data of others, including the private photos and Messenger attachments belonging to a Facebook user's network of friends.<ref name="Jadali-2019" /> DataSpii exploited Facebook's practice of making private photos and Messenger attachments publicly accessible via unique URLs. To bolster security in this regard, Facebook appends query strings in the URLs so as to limit the period of accessibility.<ref name="Jadali-2019" /> Nevertheless, NA provided real-time access to these unique URLs, which were intended to be secure. This allowed NA members to access the private content within the restricted time frame designated by Facebook. ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s Geoffrey Fowler, in collaboration with Jadali, opened Fowler's private Facebook photo in a browser with a compromised browser extension.<ref name="Fowler-2019" /> Within minutes, they anonymously retrieved the "private" photo. To validate this proof-of-concept, they searched for Fowler's name using NA, which yielded his photo as a search result. In addition, Jadali discovered Fowler's ''Washington Post'' colleague, Nick Mourtoupalas, was directly impacted by DataSpii. Jadali's investigation elucidated how DataSpii disseminated private data to additional third-parties, including foreign entities, within minutes of the data being acquired. In doing so, he identified the third-parties who were scraping, storing, and potentially enabling the facial-recognition of individuals in photos being furnished by DataSpii.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=July 18, 2019 |title=More on DataSpii: How extensions hide their data grabs—and how they're discovered |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/07/dataspii-technical-deep-dive/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> ==== Breaches ==== On September 28, 2018, Facebook experienced a major breach in its security, exposing the data of 50 million users. The data breach started in July 2017 and was discovered on September 16.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/28/everything-you-need-to-know-about-facebooks-data-breach-affecting-50m-users/|title=Everything you need to know about Facebook's data breach affecting 50M users|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=October 2, 2018}}</ref> Facebook notified users affected by the exploit and logged them out of their accounts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/technology/facebook-hack-data-breach.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928165450/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/technology/facebook-hack-data-breach.html |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Facebook Security Breach Exposes Accounts of 50 Million Users|last1=Isaac|first1=Mike|date=September 28, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 29, 2018|last2=Frenkel|first2=Sheera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/28/facebook-50-million-user-accounts-security-berach|title=Facebook says nearly 50 m users compromised in huge security breach|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=September 28, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=September 29, 2018}}</ref> In March 2019, Facebook confirmed a password compromise of millions of Facebook lite application users also affected millions of Instagram users. The reason cited was the storage of password as plain text instead of encryption which could be read by its employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/not-tens-of-thousands-but-millions-of-instagram-passwords-exposed-admits-facebook-2108667.html|title=Not Tens of Thousands, But Millions of Instagram Passwords Exposed, Admits Facebook|website=News18|date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> On December 19, 2019, security researcher Bob Diachenko discovered a database containing more than 267 million Facebook user IDs, phone numbers, and names that were left exposed on the web for anyone to access without a password or any other authentication.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/facebook/2019/12/20/267-million-facebook-users-data-has-reportedly-been-leaked/|title=267 million Facebook users' data has reportedly been leaked|last=Ghoshal|first=Abhimanyu|date=December 20, 2019|website=The Next Web|language=en-us|access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, Facebook encountered a major [[security breach]] in which its official [[Twitter]] account was hacked by a [[Saudi Arabia]]-based group called "[[OurMine]]". The group has a history of actively exposing high-profile social media profiles' vulnerabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/facebook-s-twitter-account-hacked-n1132901|title=Facebook's Twitter account hacked|access-date=February 7, 2020|website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> In April 2021, ''The Guardian'' reported approximately half a billion users' data had been stolen including birthdates and phone numbers. Facebook alleged it was "old data" from a problem fixed in August 2019 despite the data's having been released a year and a half later only in 2021; it declined to speak with journalists, had apparently not notified regulators, called the problem "unfixable", and said it would not be advising users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/11/another-huge-data-breach-another-stony-silence-from-facebook|title=Another huge data breach, another stony silence from Facebook|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> ==== Phone data and activity ==== [[File:Onavo logo.png|thumb|Facebook acquired [[Onavo]]'s [[virtual private network]] to harvest usage data on its competitors.]] After acquiring [[Onavo]] in 2013, Facebook used its Onavo Protect [[virtual private network]] (VPN) app to collect information on users' [[web traffic]] and app usage. This allowed Facebook to monitor its competitors' performance, and motivated Facebook to acquire WhatsApp in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-competition-from-startups-1502293444|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes Competition From Startups|last1=Morris|first1=Betsy|date=August 9, 2017|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=August 15, 2017|last2=Seetharaman|first2=Deepa|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/08/09/new-copycats-how-facebook-squashes-2.html|title=The New Copycats: How Facebook Squashes -2-|date=August 9, 2017|work=Fox Business|access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/13/facebook-knew-about-snap-struggles-through-app-tracking/|title=Facebook knew about Snap's struggles months before the public|website=Engadget|date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> Media outlets classified Onavo Protect as [[spyware]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=September 3, 2018|title=Apple makes Facebook pull its spyware(ish) VPN from the App Store|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90224974/apple-makes-facebook-pull-its-spywareish-vpn-from-the-app-store|website=Fast Company|date=August 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=McKay|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=September 3, 2018|title=Facebook Pulls Its Data-Harvesting Onavo VPN From App Store After Apple Says It Violates Rules|url=https://gizmodo.com/facebook-pulls-its-data-harvesting-onavo-vpn-from-app-s-1828541718|website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name="Mashable">{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Morse|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=September 3, 2018|title=Facebook to pull its creepy VPN Onavo from App Store after Apple pushback|url=https://mashable.com/article/facebook-pulls-onavo-from-app-store/|website=Mashable}}</ref> In August 2018, Facebook removed the app in response to pressure from Apple, who asserted that it violated their guidelines.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/22/apple-facebook-onavo/|title=Apple removed Facebook's Onavo from the App Store for gathering app data|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/22/17771298/facebook-onavo-protect-apple-app-store-pulled-privacy-concerns|title=Facebook will pull its data-collecting VPN app from the App Store over privacy concerns|work=[[The Verge]]|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> The [[Australian Competition and Consumer Commission]] sued Facebook on December 16, 2020, for "false, misleading or deceptive conduct" in response to the company's use of personal data obtained from Onavo for business purposes in contrast to Onavo's privacy-oriented marketing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spadafora |first1=Anthony |title=Facebook sued for using VPN to spy on users |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/facebook-sued-for-using-vpn-to-spy-on-users |website=[[TechRadar]] |access-date=January 7, 2021 |language=en |date=December 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Duckett |first1=Chris |title=Facebook dragged to court by ACCC over deceptive VPN conduct allegations |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebook-dragged-to-court-by-accc-over-deceptive-vpn-conduct-allegations/ |website=ZDNet |access-date=January 7, 2021 |language=en |date=December 16, 2020}}</ref> In 2016, Facebook Research launched Project Atlas, offering some users between the ages of 13 and 35 up to $20 per month (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|20|2016}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) in exchange for their personal data, including their app usage, [[web browsing history]], [[Web search engine|web search]] history, [[Mobile phone tracking|location history]], [[personal message]]s, photos, videos, [[email]]s and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] order history.<ref>{{cite web |last=Laura |first=Bremner |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Facebook pays teens to install VPN that spies on them |url=https://pcsite.co.uk/facebook-project-atlas/ |access-date=January 30, 2019 |website=PcSite}}</ref><ref name="Recode Jan 2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2019/1/30/18203231/apple-banning-facebook-research-app|title=Apple says it's banning Facebook's research app that collects users' personal information|last=Wagner|first=Kurt|date=January 30, 2019|website=Recode|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> In January 2019, ''TechCrunch'' reported on the project. This led Apple to temporarily revoke Facebook's Enterprise Developer Program [[Public key certificate|certificates]] for one day, preventing Facebook Research from operating on iOS devices and disabling Facebook's internal iOS apps.<ref name="Recode Jan 2019" /><ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Warren|access-date=January 30, 2019|title=Apple blocks Facebook from running its internal iOS apps|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/30/18203551/apple-facebook-blocked-internal-ios-apps|date=January 30, 2019|website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Isaac|access-date=February 2, 2019|title=Apple Shows Facebook Who Has the Power in an App Dispute|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/technology/apple-blocks-facebook.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201020059/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/technology/apple-blocks-facebook.html |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2019|issn=0362-4331|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' reported in April 2018 that the Facebook Android app had been harvesting user data, including phone calls and text messages, since 2015.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sean|last=Gallagher|access-date=January 31, 2019|title=Facebook scraped call, text message data for years from Android phones [Updated]|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/03/facebook-scraped-call-text-message-data-for-years-from-android-phones/|date=March 24, 2018|website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2018/03/25/facebook-android-phone-call-data-gathering/|title=Facebook's app has been collecting Android phone data for years on some devices|last=Rosenberg|first=Adam|website=Mashable|date=March 25, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/25/17160944/facebook-call-history-sms-data-collection-android Facebook has been collecting call history and SMS data from Android devices] ''The Verge''</ref> In May 2018, several Android users filed a [[class action lawsuit]] against Facebook for invading their privacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2018/05/android-users-file-lawsuit-against-facebook-for-invasion-of-privacy/|title=Android users file lawsuit against Facebook for invasion of privacy|work=jurist.org|date=May 11, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Buckner, Gabriella|url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/data-mining/31107/facebook-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-android-call-and-message-data-scraping|title=Facebook faces class action lawsuit for Android call and message data scraping|work=itpro.co.uk|date=May 14, 2018|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> In January 2020, Facebook launched the Off-Facebook Activity page, which allows users to see information collected by Facebook about their non-Facebook activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/off-facebook-activity|title=Off-Facebook Activity|website=Facebook for Business}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler found that this included what other apps he used on his phone, even while the Facebook app was closed, what other web sites he visited on his phone, and what in-store purchases he made from affiliated businesses, even while his phone was completely off.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/28/off-facebook-activity-page/|title=Facebook will now show you exactly how it stalks you – even when you're not using Facebook|first=Geoffrey A. |last=Fowler |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In November 2021, a report was published by Fairplay, Global Action Plan and Reset Australia detailing accusations that Facebook was continuing to manage their ad targeting system with data collected from teen users.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Facebook continuing to surveil teens for ads, says report |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/16/facebook-accused-of-still-targeting-teens-with-ads/ |access-date=November 16, 2021 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The accusations follow announcements by Facebook in July 2021 that they would cease ad targeting children.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Naomi Nix |date=July 27, 2021|title=Facebook Reduces Advertising Targeting for Teenagers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-27/facebook-reduces-advertising-targeting-for-teenagers|access-date=November 16, 2021|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=July 27, 2021|title=Facebook, Instagram to limit targeted ads for teen users|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/564878-facebook-instagram-to-limit-targeted-ads-for-teen-users/|access-date=November 16, 2021|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref> ==== Public apologies ==== The company first apologized for its privacy abuses in 2009.<ref>{{Cite book|url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=SzxDTGGr80EC|page=119}}|title=Business Ethics For Dummies|last1=Bowie|first1=Norman E.|last2=Schnieder|first2=Meg|date=February 9, 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-02062-3}}</ref> Facebook apologies have appeared in newspapers, television, blog posts and on Facebook.<ref name="Hempel-2018" /> On March 25, 2018, leading US and UK newspapers published full-page ads with a personal apology from Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg issued a verbal apology on [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/25/17161398/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-apology-cambridge-analytica-full-page-newspapers-ads|title=Mark Zuckerberg apologizes for Facebook's data privacy scandal in full-page newspaper ads|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=March 25, 2018|website=[[The Verge]]|access-date=February 6, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224105735/https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/25/17161398/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-apology-cambridge-analytica-full-page-newspapers-ads|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2010, he apologized for discrepancies in privacy settings.<ref name="Hempel-2018">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-a-history-of-mark-zuckerberg-apologizing/|title=A Short History of Facebook's Privacy Gaffes|last=Hempel|first=Jessi|date=March 30, 2018|magazine=Wired|access-date=February 6, 2019|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> Previously, Facebook had its privacy settings spread out over 20 pages, and has now put all of its privacy settings on one page, which makes it more difficult for third-party apps to access the user's personal information.<ref name="Ingram-2018" /> In addition to publicly apologizing, Facebook has said that it will be reviewing and auditing thousands of apps that display "suspicious activities" in an effort to ensure that this breach of privacy does not happen again.<ref>{{cite web|title=Social Media/polls Show Low Trust in Facebook|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/polls-show-low-trust-facebook/|website=www.digitaltrends.com|date=March 26, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> In a 2010 report regarding privacy, a research project stated that not a lot of information is available regarding the consequences of what people disclose online so often what is available are just reports made available through popular media.<ref name="christofides2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions-and-decisions/research/funding-for-privacy-research-and-knowledge-translation/completed-contributions-program-projects/2009-2010/p_200910_06/|title=Privacy and Disclosure on Facebook: Youth & Adults' Information Disclosure and Perceptions of Privacy Risks – Contributions Program 2009–2010|publisher=Office of the Privacy Commissioner of|date=March 31, 2010|website=www.priv.gc.ca|access-date=February 6, 2019|last1=Christofides|first1=E.|last2=Muise|first2=A.|last3=Desmarais|first3=S.}}</ref> In 2017, a former Facebook executive went on the record to discuss how social media platforms have contributed to the unraveling of the "fabric of society".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/11/facebook-former-executive-ripping-society-apart|title=Former Facebook executive: social media is ripping society apart|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=December 12, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=February 6, 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> === Content disputes and moderation{{anchor|Violence, conspiracy theories and fringe discourse}} === {{Main|Facebook content management controversies}} {{See also|Oversight Board (Meta)|l1=Oversight Board}} Facebook relies on its users to generate the content that bonds its users to the service. The company has come under criticism both for allowing objectionable content, including conspiracy theories and fringe discourse,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roose|first=Kevin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/technology/alex-jones-facebook-youtube.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727221747/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/technology/alex-jones-facebook-youtube.html |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Facebook and YouTube Give Alex Jones a Wrist Slap|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 27, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> and for prohibiting other content that it deems inappropriate. ==== Misinformation and fake news ==== Facebook has been criticized as a vector for [[fake news]], and has been accused of bearing responsibility for the conspiracy theory that the United States created [[ISIS]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mackey |first=Robert |date=August 26, 2014 |title=Borne by Facebook, Conspiracy Theory That U.S. Created ISIS Spreads Across Middle East |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/world/middleeast/isis-conspiracy-theories-include-a-purported-american-plot.html |access-date=April 15, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> false anti-[[Rohingya people|Rohingya]] posts being used by [[Myanmar]]'s military to fuel [[genocide]] and [[Rohingya genocide|ethnic cleansing]],<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gowen|first1=Annie|last2=Bearak|first2=Max|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/fake-news-on-facebook-fans-the-flames-of-hate-against-the-rohingya-in-burma/2017/12/07/2c1fe830-ca1f-11e7-b506-8a10ed11ecf5_story.html|title=Fake news on Facebook fans the flames of hate against the Rohingya in Burma|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mozur |first=Paul |date=October 15, 2018 |title=A Genocide Incited on Facebook, With Posts From Myanmar's Military |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html |access-date=April 15, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> enabling [[climate change denial]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Waldman |first=Scott |title=Climate Denial Spreads on Facebook as Scientists Face Restrictions |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-denial-spreads-on-facebook-as-scientists-face-restrictions/ |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=[[Scientific American]] |publisher=[[Environment & Energy Publishing|E&E News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Guynn |first=Jessica |title=Climate change denial on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok is 'as bad as ever' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/01/21/climate-change-misinformation-facebook-youtube-twitter/6594691001/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Waldman |first=Scott |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Climate denial still flourishes on Facebook — report |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/climate-denial-still-flourishes-on-facebook-report/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=E&E News |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]] conspiracy theorists,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/25/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-sandy-hook-parents-open-letter|title=An open letter to Mark Zuckerberg from the parents of a Sandy Hook victim|last1=Pozner|first1=Leonard|last2=Rosa|first2=Veronique De La|date=July 25, 2018|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=August 4, 2018|last3=Pozner|first3=parents of Noah}}</ref> and anti-refugee attacks in Germany.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/europe/facebook-refugee-attacks-germany.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821102155/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/europe/facebook-refugee-attacks-germany.html |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Facebook Fueled Anti-Refugee Attacks in Germany, New Research Suggests|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 21, 2018 |access-date=August 21, 2018|last1=Taub |first1=Amanda |last2=Fisher |first2=Max }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=MMller|first1=Karsten|last2=Schwarz|first2=Carlo|date=2017|title=Fanning the Flames of Hate: Social Media and Hate Crime|journal=SSRN Working Paper Series|doi=10.2139/ssrn.3082972|issn=1556-5068|ssrn=3082972|s2cid=19194580}}</ref><ref name="RottingDemocracyBeauchamp">{{cite web| url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/22/18177076/social-media-facebook-far-right-authoritarian-populism| title=Social media is rotting democracy from within| last=Beauchamp| first=Zack| publisher=[[Vox Media]]| date=January 22, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125171545/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/22/18177076/social-media-facebook-far-right-authoritarian-populism|archive-date=January 25, 2019 }}</ref> The government of the [[Philippines]] has also used Facebook as a tool to attack its critics.<ref name="PhilippinesEtter">{{cite web| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodrigo-duterte-turned-facebook-into-a-weapon-with-a-little-help-from-facebook| title=What Happens When the Government Uses Facebook as a Weapon?| last=Etter| first=Lauren| publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]| date=December 7, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124225207/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodrigo-duterte-turned-facebook-into-a-weapon-with-a-little-help-from-facebook|archive-date=January 24, 2019 }}</ref> In 2017, Facebook partnered with fact checkers from the [[Poynter Institute]]'s International Fact-Checking Network to identify and mark false content, though most ads from political candidates are exempt from this program.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=Elle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/22/facebook-fact-checking-tool-fake-news |title='Disputed by multiple fact-checkers': Facebook rolls out new alert to combat fake news |date=March 22, 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Amy |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2019/oct/15/elizabeth-warren/phony-facebook-ad-warren-said-most-tv-networks-wil/ |title=In phony Facebook ad, Warren said most TV networks will refuse ads with a 'lie' but that's wrong |work=[[PolitiFact]]|access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> As of 2018, Facebook had over 40 fact-checking partners across the world, including ''[[The Weekly Standard]]''.<ref name="Levin-2018">{{cite web |last=Levin |first=Sam |date=December 13, 2018 |title='They don't care': Facebook factchecking in disarray as journalists push to cut ties |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/13/they-dont-care-facebook-fact-checking-in-disarray-as-journalists-push-to-cut-ties |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=San Francisco |language=en}}</ref> Critics of the program have accused Facebook of not doing enough to remove false information from its website.<ref name="Levin-2018" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/24/facebook-fake-pelosi-video-1472413|title=Facebook on fake Pelosi video: Being 'false' isn't enough for removal|first=Nancy|last=Scola|website=[[Politico]]|date=May 24, 2019 }}</ref> Facebook has repeatedly amended its content policies. In July 2018, it stated that it would "downrank" articles that its [[Fact-checking|fact-checkers]] determined to be false, and remove misinformation that incited violence.<ref>{{cite news|last=Frenkel|first=Sheera|title=Facebook to Remove Misinformation That Leads to Violence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/technology/facebook-to-remove-misinformation-that-leads-to-violence.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718221759/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/technology/facebook-to-remove-misinformation-that-leads-to-violence.html |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=August 9, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 18, 2018 }}</ref> Facebook stated that content that receives "false" ratings from its fact-checkers can be demonetized and suffer dramatically reduced distribution. Specific posts and videos that violate community standards can be removed on Facebook.<ref name="Darcy-2018">{{Cite news|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|date=July 20, 2018|title=Facebook's rhetoric on misinformation doesn't match its actions|work=[[CNN Business]]|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/20/media/facebook-infowars-false-news-misinformation/index.html|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> In May 2019, Facebook banned a number of "dangerous" commentators from its platform, including [[Alex Jones]], [[Louis Farrakhan]], [[Milo Yiannopoulos]], [[Paul Joseph Watson]], [[Paul Nehlen]], [[David Duke]], and [[Laura Loomer]], for allegedly engaging in "violence and hate".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/tech/facebook-ban-louis-farrakhan-infowars-alex-jones-milo-laura-loomer/index.html|website=CNN|title=Facebook bans Louis Farrakhan, Milo Yiannopoulos, InfoWars and others from its platforms as 'dangerous'|first=Oliver|last=Darcy|date=May 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-bans-alex-jones-louis-farrakhan-others-facebook-instagram-n1001311|website=NBC News|title=Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan, others banned from Facebook and Instagram|date=May 2, 2019|author=Michael Cappetta and Ben Collins}}</ref> In May 2020, Facebook agreed to a preliminary settlement of $52 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|52000000|2020}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) to compensate U.S.-based Facebook content moderators for their psychological trauma suffered on the job.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook will pay $52 million in settlement with moderators who developed PTSD on the job|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/12/21255870/facebook-content-moderator-settlement-scola-ptsd-mental-health|last=Newton|first=Casey|date=May 12, 2020|website=[[The Verge]]|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The secret lives of Facebook moderators in America|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/25/18229714/cognizant-facebook-content-moderator-interviews-trauma-working-conditions-arizona|last=Newton|first=Casey|date=February 25, 2019|website=[[The Verge]]|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref> Other legal actions around the world, including in Ireland, await settlement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook Content Moderators Win $52m Compensation Settlement|url=https://www.moderatorrights.com/blog/facebook-content-moderators-win-52m-compensation-settlement/|date=May 13, 2020|website=ModeratorRights.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, the [[Government of Thailand]] utilized the Computer Crime Act for the first time to take action against Facebook and [[Twitter]] for ignoring requests to take down content and not complying with court orders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-internet-idUSKCN26F0R7?taid=5f6c4b2a82069f0001b379a4|title=Thailand takes first legal action against Facebook, Twitter over content|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=Reuters|date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> ==== Threats and incitement ==== Professor [[Ilya Somin]] reported that he had been the subject of death threats on Facebook in April 2018 from [[Cesar Sayoc]], who threatened to kill Somin and his family and "feed the bodies to Florida alligators". Somin's Facebook friends reported the comments to Facebook, which did nothing except dispatch automated messages.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 27, 2018 |title=Mail Bomber Cesar Sayoc Threatened Me on Facebook – Volokh Conspiracy |url=http://reason.com/volokh/2018/10/27/mail-bomber-cesar-sayoc-threatened-me-on}}</ref> Sayoc was later arrested for the [[October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts]] directed at Democratic politicians. ==== Terrorism ==== [[Force v. Facebook Inc.|Force v. Facebook, Inc'''.''']], 934 F.3d 53 (2nd Cir. 2019) was a case that alleged Facebook was profiting off recommendations for Hamas. In 2019, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit|US Second Circuit Appeals Court]] held that [[Section 230]] bars civil terrorism claims against [[Social media|social media companies]] and internet service providers, the first federal appellate court to do so. ==== Hate speech ==== In October 2020, [[Pakistani]] Prime Minister [[Imran Khan]] urged [[Mark Zuckerberg]], through a letter posted on government's [[Twitter]] account, to ban [[Islamophobic]] content on Facebook, warning that it encouraged [[extremism]] and violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-facebook/pakistani-pm-asks-facebook-ceo-to-ban-islamophobic-content-idUSKBN27A0UK?rpc=401&|title=Pakistani PM asks Facebook CEO to ban Islamophobic content|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=Reuters|date=October 25, 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, the company announced that it would ban [[Holocaust denial]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Grenoble|first=Ryan|date=October 12, 2020|title=Facebook Decides Holocaust Denial Content Is Bad, Actually|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/facebook-ban-holocaust-denials_n_5f8478dec5b62f97bac625c3|access-date=October 12, 2020|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> In October 2022, [[Media Matters for America]] published a report that Facebook and Instagram were still profiting off advertisements using the slur "[[LGBT grooming conspiracy theory|groomer]]" for [[LGBT]] people.<ref name="carter_20221013">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/meta-still-profiting-ads-use-anti-lgbtq-groomer-slur-despite-platforms-ban |title=Meta is still profiting off ads that use the anti-LGBTQ 'groomer' slur, despite the platform's ban |website=Media Matters |last1=Carter |first1=Camden |date=October 13, 2022 |access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref> The article reported that Meta had previously confirmed that the use of this word for the LGBT community violates its hate speech policies.<ref name="carter_20221013"/> The story was subsequently picked up by other news outlets such as the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', ''[[PinkNews]]'', and ''[[LGBTQ Nation]]''.<ref name="assuncao_20221014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-facebook-meta-media-matters-profit-anti-lgbtq-slur-groomers-ads-despite-ban-20221014-l5gpzfozjbaq5hpbst66bzkq3e-story.html |title=Facebook parent company Meta still cashing in on ads using anti-LGBTQ slur 'groomers' despite platform's ban: report |website=New York Daily News |last1=Assunção |first1=Muri |date=October 14, 2022 |access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref><ref name="wakefield_20221014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/14/meta-facebook-advert-profit-groomer-slur-rhetoric/ |title=Facebook has made thousands from hateful 'groomer' adverts in 2022 |website=PinkNews |last1=Wakefield |first1=Lily |date=October 14, 2022 |access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref><ref name="villarreal_20221014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/10/facebook-instagram-making-money-off-ads-calling-lgbtq-people-groomers-despite-policy/ |title=Facebook & Instagram are making money off ads calling LGBTQ people 'groomers' despite policy |website=LGBTQ Nation |last1=Villarreal |first1=Daniel |date=October 14, 2022 |access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref> ==== Violent Erotica ==== There are ads on Facebook and Instagram containing sexually explicit content, descriptions of graphic violence and content promoting acts of self harm. Many of the ads are for webnovel apps backed by tech giants [[ByteDance|Bytedance]] and [[Tencent]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker-White |first=Emily |title=Facebook And Instagram Are Full Of Violent Erotica Ads From ByteDance- And Tencent-Backed Apps |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2022/09/30/bytedance-tencent-facebook-instagram-ads-violent-erotica/ |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> ==== ''InfoWars'' ==== Facebook was criticized for allowing ''[[InfoWars]]'' to publish falsehoods and conspiracy theories.<ref name="Darcy-2018" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kelly|first=Heather|date=July 18, 2018|title=Mark Zuckerberg clarifies his Holocaust comments|work=CNNMoney|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/18/technology/zuckerberg-recode-holocaust/index.html|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Recode">{{Cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/7/16/17577426/media-left-right-facebook-define-journalism|title=Media – both on the left and right – are pressing Facebook to define what journalism is|work=Recode|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/07/how-facebooks-infowars-crisis-exposes-mark-zuckerbergs-hypocrisy?mbid=social_twitter|title=Why Facebook Won't Actually Ban Fake News|last=Kosoff|first=Maya|work=The Hive|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/facebook-alex-jones-robertmueller-pedophile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430002647/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/facebook-alex-jones-robertmueller-pedophile|archive-date=April 30, 2023|title=Facebook Said Alex Jones' Threatening Rant Against Robert Mueller Doesn't Violate Its Rules|work=[[BuzzFeed News]]|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> Facebook defended its actions in regards to ''InfoWars'', saying "we just don't think banning Pages for sharing conspiracy theories or false news is the right way to go."<ref name="Recode" /> Facebook provided only six cases in which it fact-checked content on the ''InfoWars'' page over the period September 2017 to July 2018.<ref name="Darcy-2018" /> In 2018, ''InfoWars'' falsely claimed that the survivors of the Parkland shooting were "actors". Facebook pledged to remove ''InfoWars'' content making the claim, although ''InfoWars'' videos pushing the false claims were left up, even though Facebook had been contacted about the videos.<ref name="Darcy-2018" /> Facebook stated that the videos never explicitly called them actors.<ref name="Darcy-2018" /> Facebook also allowed ''InfoWars'' videos that shared the [[Pizzagate conspiracy theory]] to survive, despite specific assertions that it would purge Pizzagate content.<ref name="Darcy-2018" /> In late July 2018, Facebook suspended the personal profile of ''InfoWars'' head Alex Jones for 30 days.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/26/media/facebook-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|title=Facebook suspends personal profile of InfoWars founder Alex Jones|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|work=[[CNN Business]]|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> In early August 2018, Facebook banned the four most active ''InfoWars''-related pages for [[hate speech]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/facebook-and-apple-itunes-ban-alex-jones-as-internet-giants-silence-infowars|title=Facebook and Apple iTunes Ban Alex Jones as Internet Giants Silence Infowars|last=Ross|first=Jamie|date=August 6, 2018|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref> === Political manipulation === {{See also|State-sponsored Internet propaganda}} [[File:Berlin_(9163009052).jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|Graffiti in Berlin of Facebook founder [[Mark Zuckerberg]]. The caption is a reference to [[George Orwell]]'s novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''.]] <!-- This section needs a dedicated article "Political manipulations on Facebook" --> As a dominant social-web service with massive outreach, Facebook have been used by identified or unidentified political operatives to affect public opinion. Some of these activities have been done in violation of the platform policies, creating "coordinated inauthentic behavior", support or attacks. These activities can be scripted or [[Troll farm|paid]]. Various such abusive campaign have been revealed in recent years, best known being the [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]. In 2021, former Facebook analyst within the ''Spam'' and ''Fake Engagement'' teams, [[Sophie Zhang (whistleblower)|Sophie Zhang]], reported more than 25 political subversion operations and criticized the general slow reaction time, oversightless, laissez-faire attitude by Facebook.<ref name="Ex">{{Citation|title=Ex-Facebook employee on the company's dangerous loophole: 'Autocrats don't bother to hide'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYigm8R2ep8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/eYigm8R2ep8 |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=April 15, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Wong-2021">{{Cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=April 12, 2021|title=How Facebook let fake engagement distort global politics: a whistleblower's account|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/12/facebook-fake-engagement-whistleblower-sophie-zhang|access-date=April 15, 2021|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="the Guardian-2021">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/12/facebook-loophole-state-backed-manipulation|title=Revealed: the Facebook loophole that lets world leaders deceive and harass their citizens|date=April 12, 2021|website=the Guardian}}</ref> ==== Influence Operations and Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior ==== In 2018, Facebook stated that during 2018 they had identified "coordinated inauthentic behavior" in "many Pages, Groups and accounts created to stir up political debate, including in the US, the Middle East, Russia and the UK."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gleicher|first1=Nathaniel|last2=Rodriguez|first2=Oscar|title=Removing Additional Inauthentic Activity from Facebook|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/10/removing-inauthentic-activity/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 27, 2019|date=October 11, 2018}}</ref> Campaigns operated by the British intelligence agency unit, called [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]], have broadly fallen into two categories; cyber attacks and propaganda efforts. The propaganda efforts utilize "mass messaging" and the "pushing [of] stories" via social media sites like Facebook.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snowden Docs: British Spies Used Sex and 'Dirty Tricks'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/snowden-docs-british-spies-used-sex-dirty-tricks-n23091|work=[[NBC News]]|date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Snowden leaks: GCHQ 'attacked Anonymous' hackers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26049448|work=[[BBC News]]|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> Israel's [[Jewish Internet Defense Force]], the [[Chinese Communist Party]]'s [[50 Cent Party]] and Turkey's [[AK Trolls]] also focus their attention on social media platforms like Facebook.<ref>{{cite news|title=China's 'troll factory' targeting Taiwan with disinformation prior to election|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3568146|work=Taiwan News|date=May 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trolls, bots and shutdowns: This is how Turkey manipulates public opinion|url=https://ahvalnews.com/freedoms/trolls-bots-and-shutdowns-how-turkey-manipulates-public-opinion|work=Ahval|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190541/https://ahvalnews.com/freedoms/trolls-bots-and-shutdowns-how-turkey-manipulates-public-opinion|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jewish Internet Defense Force 'seizes control' of anti-Israel Facebook group|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Jewish-Internet-Defense-Force-seizes-control-of-anti-Israel-Facebook-group|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=July 29, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Sarah |title=Jewish Activist Battles For Israel on Facebook |newspaper=Israel National News |date=March 4, 2008 |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125783 }}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}}</ref> In July 2018, Samantha Bradshaw, co-author of the report from the [[Oxford Internet Institute]] (OII) at [[Oxford University]], said that "The number of countries where formally organised [[social media manipulation]] occurs has greatly increased, from 28 to 48 countries globally. The majority of growth comes from political parties who spread [[disinformation]] and junk news around election periods."<ref>{{cite news|title=Social media manipulation rising globally, new report warns|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-07-20-social-media-manipulation-rising-globally-new-report-warns|publisher=University of Oxford|date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that Facebook "banned hundreds of pages and accounts that it says were fraudulently flooding its site with partisan political content – although they came from the United States instead of being associated with [[Russia]]."<ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook: Most political trolls are American, not Russian|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/10/11/facebook-political-trolls-american-not-russian/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/10/11/facebook-political-trolls-american-not-russian/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=October 12, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In December 2018, ''The Washington Post'' reported that "Facebook has suspended the account of Jonathon Morgan, the chief executive of a top social media research firm" [[New Knowledge]], "after reports that he and others engaged in an operation to spread disinformation" on Facebook and Twitter during the [[2017 United States Senate special election in Alabama]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Facebook suspends five accounts, including that of a social media researcher, for misleading tactics in Alabama election |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/22/facebook-suspends-five-accounts-including-social-media-researcher-misleading-tactics-alabama-election/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Democratic operatives created fake Russian bots designed to link Kremlin to Roy Moore in Alabama race |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-operatives-created-fake-russian-bots-in-alabama-race-designed-to-link-kremlin-to-republican-roy-moore |work=[[Fox News]] |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> In January 2019, Facebook said it has removed 783 Iran-linked accounts, pages and groups for engaging in what it called "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".<ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook Says It Removed 783 Accounts Tied to an Iranian Manipulation Campaign|url=http://fortune.com/2019/01/31/facebook-manipulation-campaign-iran-fake-news/|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=January 31, 2019}}</ref> In March 2019, Facebook sued four Chinese firms for selling "fake accounts, likes and followers" to amplify Chinese [[state media]] outlets.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 2019 |title=China is using Facebook to build a huge audience around the world |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/04/20/china-is-using-facebook-to-build-a-huge-audience-around-the-world |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 19, 2023 |issn=0013-0613 |quote=Facebook pages usually gain followers when people share posts with their friends. Chinese outlets receive far fewer shares than Western ones do, which implies that they use some other tactic to amass fans. Facebook has already accused Chinese actors of skullduggery. In March it sued four Chinese firms, which it said had sold "fake accounts, likes and followers".}}</ref> In May 2019, [[Tel Aviv]]-based private intelligence agency [[Archimedes Group]] was banned from Facebook for "coordinated inauthentic behavior" after Facebook found fake users in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48349671|title=Is Facebook undermining democracy in Africa?|last=Madowo|first=Larry|date=May 24, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> Facebook investigations revealed that Archimedes had spent some $1.1 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1100000|2019}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) on fake ads, paid for in Brazilian reais, Israeli shekels and US dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/change-reality-facebook-busts-israel-based-campaign-to-disrupt-elections-20190517-p51oad.html|title='Change reality': Facebook busts Israel-based campaign to disrupt elections|last1=Debre|first1=Isabel|last2=Satter|first2=Raphael|date=May 16, 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> Facebook gave examples of Archimedes Group political interference in Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Niger and Tunisia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/05/removing-coordinated-inauthentic-behavior-from-israel/|title=Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From Israel {{!}} Facebook Newsroom|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab said in a report that "The tactics employed by Archimedes Group, a private company, closely resemble the types of information warfare tactics often used by governments, and the Kremlin in particular."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/16/tech/facebook-takedown-israeli-company/index.html|title=Facebook says Israeli company used fake accounts to target African elections|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Donie|last2=Gold|first2=Hadas|department=CNN Business|website=CNN|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-bans-israeli-firm-over-fake-political-activity-11558030115|title=Facebook Bans Israeli Firm Over Fake Political Activity|last=Needleman|first=Sarah E.|date=May 16, 2019|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=June 8, 2019|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On May 23, 2019, Facebook released its Community Standards Enforcement Report highlighting that it has identified several fake accounts through artificial intelligence and human monitoring. In a period of six months, October 2018 – March 2019, the social media website removed a total of 3.39 billion fake accounts. The number of fake accounts was reported to be more than 2.4 billion real people on the platform.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months|title=Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts in 6 Months|newspaper=[[NPR]]|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019|publisher=[[NPR]]|last1=Romo|first1=Vanessa|last2=Held|first2=Amy}}</ref> In July 2019, Facebook advanced its measures to counter deceptive political propaganda and other abuse of its services. The company removed more than 1,800 accounts and pages that were being operated from Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and Honduras.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-accounts/facebook-removes-fake-accounts-from-thailand-russia-ukraine-honduras-idUSKCN1UK0KE|title=Facebook removes fake accounts from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras|access-date=July 25, 2019|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it was announced that the internet regulatory committee would block access to Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 4, 2022 |title=Russia blocks access to Facebook |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/russia-blocks-facebook/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref> On October 30, 2019, Facebook deleted several accounts of the employees working at the Israeli [[NSO Group]], stating that the accounts were "deleted for not following our terms". The deletions came after WhatsApp sued the Israeli surveillance firm for targeting 1,400 devices with [[spyware]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qudsnen.co/facebook-deletes-accounts-of-workers-at-nso-israeli-firm/|title=Facebook deletes accounts of workers at NSO Israeli firm|access-date=November 1, 2019|website=Quds News Network|date=November 2019|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817171324/https://qudsnen.co/facebook-deletes-accounts-of-workers-at-nso-israeli-firm/|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{anchor|American Edge}} In 2020, Facebook helped found [[American Edge]], an anti-regulation [[lobbying firm]] to fight anti-trust probes.<ref name="ae">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/12/facebook-lobbying-american-edge/ |title=Facebook Helps Launch American Edge, a Dark-Money Advocacy Group for Big Tech |date=May 12, 2020 |access-date=May 12, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en-US |last=Romm |first=Tony}}</ref> The group runs ads that "fail to mention what legislation concerns them, how those concerns could be fixed, or how the horrors they warn of could actually happen", and do not clearly disclose that they are funded by Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/history-repeats-itself-with-big-techs-misleading-advertising/ |accessdate=August 26, 2023 |title=History repeats itself with Big Tech's misleading advertising |first=Tom |last=Wheeler |date=June 15, 2022 |publisher=[[Brookings Institution]]}}</ref> In 2020, the government of Thailand forced Facebook to take down a Facebook group called Royalist Marketplace with one million members following potentially illegal posts shared. The authorities have also threatened Facebook with legal action. In response, Facebook is planning to take legal action against the Thai government for suppression of freedom of expression and violation of human rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/24/tech/facebook-blocks-thailand-group/index.html|title=Facebook prepares legal action against Thai government's order to block group|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=CNN International|date=August 24, 2020 }}</ref> In February 2021, Facebook removed the main page of the Myanmar military, after two protesters were shot and killed during the [[2021 Myanmar protests|anti-coup protests]]. Facebook said that the page breached its guidelines that prohibit the incitement of violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/facebook-removes-main-page-of-myanmar-military/13176760|title=Facebook removes main page of Myanmar military for 'incitement of violence'|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=ABC News|date=February 21, 2021}}</ref> On February 25, Facebook announced to ban all accounts of the Myanmar military, along with the "[[Tatmadaw]]-linked commercial entities". Citing the "exceptionally severe human rights abuses and the clear risk of future military-initiated violence in Myanmar", the tech giant also implemented the move on its subsidiary, [[Instagram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210225-facebook-bans-myanmar-military-accounts-from-its-platforms-citing-coup|title=Facebook bans Myanmar military accounts from its platforms, citing coup|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=France 24|date=February 25, 2021}}</ref> In March 2021, ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'s}} editorial board criticized Facebook's decision to fact-check its op-ed titled "We'll Have Herd immunity by April" written by surgeon [[Marty Makary]], calling it "counter-opinion masquerading as [[fact-checking|fact checking]]."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=March 5, 2021|title=Opinion: Fact-Checking Facebook's Fact Checkers |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fact-checking-facebooks-fact-checkers-11614987375|access-date=March 7, 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Facebook guidelines allow users to call for the death of public figures, they also allow praise of mass killers and 'violent non-state actors' in some situations.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=Facebook guidelines allow for users to call for death of public figures|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/23/facebook-guidelines-allow-for-users-to-call-for-death-of-public-figures|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=Facebook leak underscores strategy to operate in repressive regimes|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/23/facebook-leak-underscore-strategy-operate-repressive-regimes|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, former Facebook analyst within the ''Spam'' and ''Fake Engagement'' teams, [[Sophie Zhang (whistleblower)|Sophie Zhang]], reported on more than 25 political subversion operations she uncovered while in Facebook, and the general laissez-faire by the private enterprise.<ref name="Ex" /><ref name="Wong-2021" /><ref name="the Guardian-2021" /> In 2021, Facebook was cited as playing a role in the fomenting of the [[2021 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |date=February 7, 2021 |title=Sheryl Sandberg Downplayed Facebook's Role In The Capitol Hill Siege—Justice Department Files Tell A Very Different Story |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2021/02/07/sheryl-sandberg-downplayed-facebooks-role-in-the-capitol-hill-siege-justice-department-files-tell-a-very-different-story/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Timberg |first1=Craig |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Albergotti |first3=Reed |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Inside Facebook, Jan. 6 violence fueled anger, regret over missed warning signs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/22/jan-6-capitol-riot-facebook/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref> ==== Russian interference ==== {{See also|Internet Research Agency|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}} In 2018, Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]] indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for "engaging in operations to interfere with U.S. political and electoral processes, including the 2016 presidential election."<ref>{{cite news|title=Internet Research Agency indicted: Who is the Russian company behind the fake Facebook ads?|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/internet-research-agency-indicted-who-is-the-russian-company-behind-the-fake-facebook-ads|work=[[Fox News]]|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=13 Russians Indicted as Mueller Reveals Effort to Aid Trump Campaign|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/us/politics/russians-indicted-mueller-election-interference.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216182422/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/us/politics/russians-indicted-mueller-election-interference.html |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Exposing Russia's Effort to Sow Discord Online: The Internet Research Agency and Advertisements|url=https://intelligence.house.gov/social-media-content/|website=intelligence.house.gov|publisher=Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128044519/https://intelligence.house.gov/social-media-content/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mueller contacted Facebook subsequently to the company's disclosure that it had sold more than $100,000 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|100000|2016}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) worth of ads to a company ([[Internet Research Agency]], owned by Russian billionaire and businessman [[Yevgeniy Prigozhin]]) with links to the Russian intelligence community before the [[2016 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-more-details-on-russian-ad-buys-than-congress-1505514552|title=Facebook Gave Special Counsel Robert Mueller More Details on Russian Ad Buys Than Congress|last1=Seetharaman|first1=Deepa|date=September 15, 2017|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=September 15, 2017|last2=Tau|first2=Byron|issn=0099-9660|last3=Harris|first3=Shane}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook sold $100,000 of political ads to fake Russian accounts during 2016 US election|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-russia-ads-us-election-political-adverts-trump-putin-fake-news-a7933461.html|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Independent]]|date=September 6, 2017 }}</ref> In September 2017, Facebook's chief security officer [[Alex Stamos]] wrote the company "found approximately $100,000 in ad spending from June 2015 to May 2017 – associated with roughly 3,000 ads – that was connected to about 470 inauthentic accounts and Pages in violation of our policies. Our analysis suggests these accounts and Pages were affiliated with one another and likely operated out of Russia."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Facebook Says Russian Accounts Bought $100,000 in Ads During the 2016 Election|url=http://time.com/4930532/facebook-russian-accounts-2016-election/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=September 6, 2017}}</ref> Clinton and Trump campaigns spent $81 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|81000000|2016}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) on Facebook ads.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Studies Show Pundits Are Wrong About Russian Social-Media Involvement in US Politics|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-elections-interference/|work=The Nation|date=December 28, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603215617/https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-elections-interference/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company pledged full cooperation in [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Mueller's investigation]], and provided all information about the Russian advertisements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/06/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-data-on-russian-ads-report-says.html|title=Facebook gave special counsel Robert Mueller data on Russian ads, report says|last=Castillo|first=Michelle|website=[[CNBC]]|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017}}</ref> Members of the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House]] and [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committees]] have claimed that Facebook had withheld information that could illuminate the Russian propaganda campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/facebooks-openness-on-russia-questioned-by-congressional-investigators/2017/09/18/060e1ee4-9c90-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html|title=Facebook's openness on Russia questioned by congressional investigators|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|date=September 18, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 19, 2017|last2=Dwoskin|first2=Elizabeth|issn=0190-8286|last3=Timberg|first3=Craig}}</ref> Russian operatives have used Facebook polarize the American public discourses, organizing both [[Black Lives Matter]] rallies<ref>{{cite news|title=Russians trolls organized a protest in the US|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/06/25/russia-protest-philando-castile-distorting-truth-orig.cnn/video/playlists/russian-trolls-exploit-philando-castiles-death/|work=[[CNN]]|date=June 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Did Russian hackers organize Philando Castile protest? Activists say no|url=http://www.startribune.com/local-organizers-doubt-reports-of-russian-ties-to-castile-protest/454368633/|work=[[Star Tribune]]|date=November 1, 2017}}</ref> and anti-immigrant rallies on U.S. soil,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russia-used-facebook-events-to-organize-anti-immigrant-rallies-on-us-soil|title=Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Poulsen|first2=Kevin|last3=Ackerman|first3=Spencer|date=September 12, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> as well as anti-Clinton rallies<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://amp.businessinsider.com/facebook-group-russia-texas-anti-immigrant-rallies-2017-9|title=Shuttered Facebook group that organized anti-Clinton, anti-immigrant rallies across Texas was linked to Russia|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913202902/https://amp.businessinsider.com/facebook-group-russia-texas-anti-immigrant-rallies-2017-9|url-status=dead}}</ref> and rallies both for and against Donald Trump.<ref>"[http://fortune.com/2018/02/17/russian-organized-rallies-election-meddling/ Russians Staged Rallies For and Against Trump to Promote Discord, Indictment Says]". ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''. February 17, 2018.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/russians-appear-to-use-facebook-to-push-pro-trump-flash-mobs-in-florida|title=Exclusive: Russians Appear to Use Facebook to Push Trump Rallies in 17 U.S. Cities|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Resnick|first2=Gideon|last3=Poulsen|first3=Kevin|last4=Ackerman|first4=Spencer|date=September 20, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> Facebook ads have also been used to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims by simultaneously sending contrary messages to different users based on their political and demographic characteristics in order to sow discord.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/russian-operatives-used-facebook-ads-to-exploit-divisions-over-black-political-activism-and-muslims/2017/09/25/4a011242-a21b-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html|title=Russian operatives used Facebook ads to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims|last1=Entous|first1=Adam|last2=Timberg|first2=Craig|last3=Dwoskin|first3=Elizabeth|date=September 25, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 25, 2017|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>"[https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/27/media/facebook-black-lives-matter-targeting/index.html Exclusive: Russian-bought Black Lives Matter ad on Facebook targeted Baltimore and Ferguson]". CNN. September 28, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russians-impersonated-real-american-muslims-to-stir-chaos-on-facebook-and-instagram|title=Exclusive: Russians Impersonated Real American Muslims to Stir Chaos on Facebook and Instagram|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Poulsen|first2=Kevin|last3=Ackerman|first3=Spencer|date=September 27, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> Zuckerberg has stated that he regrets having dismissed concerns over Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/27/mark-zuckerberg-says-facebook-impact-on-2016-election-went-beyond-ads.html|title=Mark Zuckerberg responds to Trump, regrets he dismissed election concerns|last=Shinal|first=John|date=September 27, 2017|work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> Russian-American billionaire [[Yuri Milner]], who befriended Zuckerberg<ref>"[https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/kremlin-owned-firms-linked-major-twitter-facebook-investments-icij/ Kremlin-owned Firms Linked to Major Investments in Twitter and Facebook]". ''International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – ICIJ''. November 5, 2017.</ref> between 2009 and 2011, had [[Kremlin]] backing for his investments in Facebook and Twitter.<ref name="Drucker-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/world/yuri-milner-facebook-twitter-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105190211/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/world/yuri-milner-facebook-twitter-russia.html |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Kremlin Cash Behind Billionaire's Twitter and Facebook Investments|last=Drucker|first=Jesse|date=November 5, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In January 2019, Facebook removed 289 pages and 75 coordinated accounts linked to the Russian state-owned news agency [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]] which had misrepresented themselves as independent news or general interest pages.<ref name=DaFN>{{cite web|title=Disinformation and 'fake news': Final Report|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1791/179109.htm|website=publications.parliament.uk|publisher=Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – House of Commons|access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gleicher|first=Nathaniel|title=Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior from Russia|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/01/removing-cib-from-russia/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 24, 2019|date=January 17, 2019}}</ref> Facebook later identified and removed an additional 1,907 accounts linked to Russia found to be engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".<ref>{{cite news|last=Cuthbertson|first=Antony|title=Facebook removes thousands more Russian accounts|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-russia-bots-brexit-account-iran-instagram-a8840256.html|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Independent]]|date=March 26, 2019 }}</ref> In 2018, a UK [[Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]] (DCMS) select committee report had criticised Facebook for its reluctance to investigate abuse of its platform by the Russian government, and for downplaying the extent of the problem, referring to the company as 'digital gangsters'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disinformation and 'fake news': Interim Report|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/363/36308.htm|website=publications.parliament.uk|publisher=Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – House of Commons}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cadwalladr|first=Carole|author-link=Carole Cadwalladr|title=A withering verdict: MPs report on Zuckerberg, Russia and Cambridge Analytica|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/28/dcms-report-fake-news-disinformation-brexit-facebook-russia|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Observer]]|date=July 28, 2018}}</ref><ref name="the Guardian-2019">{{cite web|date=February 18, 2019|title=Facebook labelled 'digital gangsters' by report on fake news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/18/facebook-fake-news-investigation-report-regulation-privacy-law-dcms|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><blockquote>"Democracy is at risk from the malicious and relentless targeting of citizens with disinformation and personalised 'dark adverts' from unidentifiable sources, delivered through the major social media platforms we use every day," Damian Collins, DCMS Committee Chair<ref name="the Guardian-2019" /></blockquote>In February 2019, [[Glenn Greenwald]] wrote that a cybersecurity company New Knowledge, which is behind one of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate reports]] on Russian social media election interference, "was caught just six weeks ago engaging in a massive scam to create fictitious Russian troll accounts on Facebook and Twitter in order to claim that the Kremlin was working to defeat Democratic Senate nominee [[Doug Jones (politician)|Doug Jones]] in Alabama. ''[[The New York Times]]'', when exposing the scam, quoted a New Knowledge report that boasted of its fabrications..."<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC News, to Claim Russia Supports Tulsi Gabbard, Relies on Firm Just Caught Fabricating Russia Data for the Democratic Party|url=https://theintercept.com/2019/02/03/nbc-news-to-claim-russia-supports-tulsi-gabbard-relies-on-firm-just-caught-fabricating-russia-data-for-the-democratic-party/|work=The Intercept|date=February 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Secret Experiment in Alabama Senate Race Imitated Russian Tactics|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220010545/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> ==== Anti-Rohingya propaganda ==== {{See also|Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar}} In 2018, Facebook took down 536<!--425+46+52+13--> Facebook pages, 17 Facebook groups, 175<!--135+12+18+10--> Facebook accounts, and 16<!--15+1--> Instagram accounts linked to the [[Myanmar]] military. Collectively these were followed by over 10 million people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Removing Myanmar Military Officials From Facebook|date=August 28, 2018|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/08/removing-myanmar-officials/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 27, 2019 }}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that:<ref>{{cite news|last=Mozur|first=Paul|title=A Genocide Incited on Facebook, With Posts From Myanmar's Military|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html|access-date=May 27, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> {{blockquote|after months of reports about anti-Rohingya propaganda on Facebook, the company acknowledged that it had been too slow to act in Myanmar. By then, more than 700,000 Rohingya had fled the country in a year, in what United Nations officials called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".}} ==== Anti-Muslim propaganda and Hindu nationalism in India ==== A 2019 book titled ''The Real Face of Facebook in India'', co-authored by the journalists [[Paranjoy Guha Thakurta]] and Cyril Sam, alleged that Facebook helped enable and benefited from the rise of [[Narendra Modi]]'s [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Past and Future of Facebook and BJP's Mutually Beneficial Relationship|url=https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-facebook-india-modi|website=The Wire}}</ref> Ankhi Das, Facebook's policy director for India and South and Central Asia, apologized publicly in August 2020 for sharing a Facebook post that called Muslims in India a "degenerate community". She said she shared the post "to reflect my deep belief in celebrating feminism and civic participation".<ref>{{cite web|title=A Facebook Executive Who Shared An Anti-Muslim Post Has Apologized To Employees|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426173931/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-date=April 26, 2023|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=BuzzFeed News|date=August 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She is reported to have prevented action by Facebook against anti-Muslim content<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ellis-Petersen|first1=Hannah|last2=Rahman|first2=Shaikh Azizur|date=September 1, 2020|title=Facebook faces grilling by MPs in India over anti-Muslim hate speech|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/facebook-faces-grilling-by-mps-in-india-over-anti-muslim-hate-speech|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="The Wire" /> and supported the BJP in internal Facebook messages.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Horwitz|first1=Jeff|last2=Purnell|first2=Newley|date=August 30, 2020|title=Facebook Executive Supported India's Modi, Disparaged Opposition in Internal Messages|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-executive-supported-indias-modi-disparaged-opposition-in-internal-messages-11598809348|access-date=September 1, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Report Says Facebook's Ankhi Das Supported Modi, Hoped for BJP's Victory|url=https://thewire.in/tech/facebook-ankhi-das-modi-bjp-support-wsj-new-report|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> In 2020, Facebook executives overrode their employees' recommendations that the BJP politician [[T. Raja Singh]] should be banned from the site for [[Hate speech laws in India|hate speech]] and rhetoric that could lead to violence. Singh had said on Facebook that [[Rohingya people|Rohingya Muslim immigrants]] should be shot and had threatened to destroy [[mosque]]s. Current and former Facebook employees told ''The Wall Street Journal'' that the decision was part of a pattern of favoritism by Facebook toward the BJP as it seeks more business in India.<ref name="The Wire">{{cite web|title=Watch {{!}} Why Did Facebook Not Remove BJP-Linked Anti-Muslim Hate Posts?|url=https://thewire.in/video/watch-facebook-bjp-hate-posts-wall-street-journal-raja-singh|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> Facebook also took no action after BJP politicians made posts accusing Muslims of intentionally spreading [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19]], an employee said.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Purnell|first1=Newley|last2=Horwitz|first2=Jeff|date=August 14, 2020|title=Facebook's Hate-Speech Rules Collide With Indian Politics|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346|access-date=August 16, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On August 31, 2020, the [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|Delhi Assembly]] began investigating whether Facebook bore blame for the [[2020 Delhi riots|2020 religious riots]] in the city, claiming it had found Facebook "prima facie guilty of a role in the violence".<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=August 31, 2020|title=Assembly panel alleges role of Facebook in Delhi riots|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/assembly-panel-alleges-role-of-facebook-in-delhi-riots/article32488223.ece|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Deol|first=Taran|date=August 31, 2020|title=Delhi assembly panel wants Facebook named co-accused in communal riots, hints at 'conspiracy'|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/delhi-assembly-panel-wants-facebook-named-co-accused-in-communal-riots-hints-at-conspiracy/492793/|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 12, 2020, a Delhi Assembly committee said in a statement that it had asked Facebook India head Ajit Mohan to appear before it on September 15, leading to Facebook objecting and moving the [[Supreme Court of India]] against the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 12, 2020|title=Delhi city lawmakers summon Facebook India chief over February riots|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-facebook-idUSKBN2630N6|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 23, 2020|title=Facebook India moves supreme court against Delhi assembly panel summons|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-india-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summons/story-exrgUJRGksKVLeDlUsoMWL.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> On September 15, Facebook skipped the Delhi Assembly panel hearing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook Skips Delhi Assembly Panel Hearing, "Insulting," Fume Members|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-to-be-issued-final-warning-by-delhi-assembly-panel-after-executives-skip-hearing-2295583|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On September 20, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a new notice asking Facebook to appear before it on September 23.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 20, 2020|title=Delhi Assembly panel issues fresh notice of appearance to Facebook India VP|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-assembly-panel-issues-fresh-notice-of-appearance-to-facebook-india-vp-6603758/|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 22, Facebook India vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan moved the Supreme Court against the summons of the Delhi Assembly Committee.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 22, 2020|title=Facebook India VP moves Supreme Court against Delhi Assembly panel summoning him|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/fb-india-vp-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summoning-him-11600785870396.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, the Supreme Court granted him relief and ordered a stay to the summons, with the Central government later backing the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=Delhi riots {{!}} Supreme Court grants relief to Facebook official|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-riots-no-coercive-action-against-facebook-vp-till-oct-15-over-assembly-panel-summons-says-sc/article32677366.ece|access-date=July 5, 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=SC orders stay on summons to Facebook India V–P by Delhi Assembly panel on riots|work=ThePrint|url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/sc-orders-stay-on-summons-to-facebook-india-v-p-by-delhi-assembly-panel-on-riots/509050/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Centre backs Facebook in SC row with Delhi Assembly over summons|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/centre-backs-facebook-in-sc-row-with-delhi-assembly-over-summons/articleshow/78684769.cms|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> A former Facebook employee told a Delhi Assembly panel on November 13 that the violence could have been 'easily averted' if the social media giant had acted in a 'proactive and prompt manner'.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 13, 2020|title=Delhi riots could have been averted if firm had acted: Ex-Facebook employee|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/delhi-riots-could-have-been-averted-if-firm-had-acted-ex-facebook-employee-120111300137_1.html|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> On December 3, the Delhi Assembly moved the Supreme Court for intervention in the case.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Delhi Assembly peace panel moves SC for intervention in Facebook VP Ajit Mohan's case|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/delhi-assembly-peace-panel-moves-sc-for-intervention-in-facebook-vp-ajit-mohans-case/articleshow/79550742.cms|access-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref> On February 4, 2021, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a fresh notice to Facebook India to testify on the riots, avoiding specific notice to Mohan, by asking a senior, responsible officer from the company to appear before the panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 5, 2021|title=Facebook gets new notice to appear before Delhi Assembly committee probing riots|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-gets-new-notice-to-appear-before-delhi-assembly-committee-probing-riots-101612468672035.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The Union government submitted in the Supreme Court that Facebook could not be made accountable before any state assembly and the committee formed was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 18, 2021|title='Facebook, Twitter can't be accountable to state assemblies': Centre to SC|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-twitter-can-t-be-accountable-to-state-assemblies-government-101613610284320.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=[Delhi Riots] Committee formed by Delhi Assembly to probe social media giants' omissions unconstitutional: Centre, Facebook tell Supreme Court|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/peace-harmony-committee-constituted-delhi-state-assembly-probe-delhi-riots-unconstitutional-centre-facebook-supreme-court|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Bar and Bench – Indian Legal news|date=February 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On February 24, Mohan challenged summons issued by the Delhi assembly for failing to appear before it as a witness in connection with the 2020 riots in the Supreme Court, saying that the 'right to silence' is a virtue in present 'noisy times' and the legislature had no authority to examine him in a law and order case. The Supreme Court reserved its judgment for the case.<ref>{{cite web|title="Expansion Of Power Through Backdoor": Facebook Boss On Delhi Summons|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-md-ajit-mohan-to-supreme-court-right-to-silence-is-virtue-in-noisy-times-2377893|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On July 8, the Supreme Court refused to quash the summons and asked Facebook asked to appear before the Delhi assembly panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 8, 2021|title=Facebook asked to appear before Delhi assembly panel, Supreme Court refuses to quash summons|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-sc-rejects-facebook-india-vp-ajit-mohan-plea-summons-assembly-committee-7395029/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, 2023, it was reported that Facebook had delayed for about a year when in 2021, it removed a network of accounts ran by India's [[Chinar Corps]] which spread disinformation that would put Kashmiri journalists in danger. The delay and the previously not publicized takedown action were due a fear that its local employees would be targeted by authorities, and that it would hurt business prospects in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Menn |first1=Joseph |last2=Shih |first2=Gerry |date=September 26, 2023 |title=Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/26/india-facebook-propaganda-hate-speech/ |url-access=registration}}</ref> === Company governance === Early Facebook investor and former Zuckerberg mentor [[Roger McNamee]] described Facebook as having "the most centralized decision-making structure I have ever encountered in a large company."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/books/review/roger-mcnamee-zucked.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129162648/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/books/review/roger-mcnamee-zucked.html |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor|first=Tom|last=Bissell|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> [[Nathan Schneider]], a professor of media studies at the University of Colorado Boulder argued for transforming Facebook into a [[platform cooperative]] owned and governed by the users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvxbgq/its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-give-up-control-of-facebook|title=It's Time for Mark Zuckerberg to Give Up Control of Facebook|first1=Nathan|last1=Schneider|first2=Harry|last2=Cheadle|date=March 27, 2018 |website=Vice |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103090705/https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvxbgq/its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-give-up-control-of-facebook |archive-date= November 3, 2023 }}</ref> Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes states that CEO Mark Zuckerberg has too much power, that the company is now a monopoly, and that, as a result, it should be split into multiple smaller companies. Hughes called for the breakup of Facebook in an [[op-ed]] on ''The New York Times''. Hughes says he is concerned that Zuckerberg has surrounded himself with a team that does not challenge him and that as a result, it is the U.S. government's job to hold him accountable and curb his "unchecked power".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-co-founder-chris-hughes-calls-for-companys-breakup-zuckerberg/|title=Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes calls for company's breakup|first=Shelby|last=Brown|website=CNET |date=May 9, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428144947/https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/facebook-co-founder-chris-hughes-calls-for-companys-breakup-zuckerberg/ |archive-date= April 28, 2023 }}</ref> Hughes also said that "Mark's power is unprecedented and un-American."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/opinion/sunday/chris-hughes-facebook-zuckerberg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509103054/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/opinion/sunday/chris-hughes-facebook-zuckerberg.html |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=It's Time to Break Up Facebook|first=Chris|last=Hughes|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 9, 2019}}</ref> Several U.S. politicians agree with Hughes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/more-politicians-side-with-chris-hughes-and-are-ready-to-split-up-facebook/|title=More politicians side with Facebook co-founder on breaking up company|first=Shelby|last=Brown|website=CNET}}</ref> EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager has stated that splitting Facebook should only be done as "a remedy of the very last resort", and that splitting Facebook would not solve Facebook's underlying problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/eu-competition-commissioner-facebook-breakup-would-be-last-resort/|title=EU competition commissioner: Facebook breakup would be 'last resort'|first=Katie|last=Collins|website=CNET}}</ref> === Litigation === {{Further|Lawsuits involving Meta Platforms}} The company has been subject to repeated litigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/appeals-court-upholds-deal-allowing-kids-images-in-facebook-ads/|title=Appeals court upholds deal allowing kids' images in Facebook ads|last=Farivar|first=Cyrus|date=January 7, 2016|website=Ars Technica|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yahoo-facebook-lawsuit-idUSBRE82B18M20120312|title=Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patents|last1=Levine|first1=Dan|last2=Oreskovic|first2=Alexei|date=March 12, 2012|website=[[Reuters]]|publisher=Thomson Reuters|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2017/2/1/14476500/facebook-oculus-zenimax-lawsuit-500-million|title=Facebook lost its Oculus lawsuit and has to pay $500 million|last=Wagner|first=Kurt|date=February 1, 2017|website=[[Recode]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/19/11712804/facebook-private-message-scanning-privacy-lawsuit|title=Lawsuit claims Facebook illegally scanned private messages|last=Brandom|first=Rusell|date=May 19, 2016|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> Its most prominent case addressed allegations that Zuckerberg broke an [[oral contract]] with [[Cameron Winklevoss]], [[Tyler Winklevoss]], and [[Divya Narendra]] to build the [[ConnectU|then-named "HarvardConnection"]] social network in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/25/digitalmedia.usnews|title=Facebook in court over ownership|last=Tryhorn|first=Chris|date=July 25, 2007|website=The Guardian|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3391856|title=Facebook Founder Accused of Stealing Idea for Site|last=Michels|first=Scott|date=July 20, 2007|website=[[ABC News]]|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-mark-zuckerberg-hacked-connectu-2010-3|title=How Mark Zuckerberg Hacked into Rival ConnectU In 2004|last=Carlson|first=Nicholas|date=March 5, 2010|website=Business Insider|publisher=Axel Springer SE|access-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> On March 6, 2018, [[BlackBerry Limited|BlackBerry]] sued Facebook and its Instagram and WhatsApp subdivision for ripping off key features of its messaging app.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/03/07/blackberry-to-facebook-stole-our-messaging-technology.html|title=BlackBerry to Facebook: You stole our messaging technology|date=March 7, 2018|work=[[Fox News]]|access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, a Texan woman sued Facebook, claiming she had been recruited into the sex trade at the age of 15 by a man who "friended" her on the social media network. Facebook responded that it works both internally and externally to ban sex traffickers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sex-trafficking-facebook-lawsuit/woman-sues-facebook-claims-site-enabled-sex-trafficking-idUSKCN1MD080|title=Woman sues Facebook, claims site enabled sex trafficking|last=Whitcomb|first=Dan|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sex-trafficking-facebook-lawsuit/facebook-responding-to-lawsuit-says-sex-trafficking-banned-on-site-idUSKCN1ME038|title=Facebook, responding to lawsuit, says sex trafficking banned on site|last=Whitcomb|first=Dan|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> In 2019, British solicitors representing a [[Almondbury Community School bullying incident|bullied Syrian schoolboy]], sued Facebook over [[Almondbury Community School bullying incident#False claims|false claims]]. They claimed that Facebook protected prominent figures from scrutiny instead of removing content that violates its rules and that the special treatment was financially driven.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/refugee-waterboarded-bullies-sue-facebook-13885978|title=Refugee 'waterboarded' by bullies to sue Facebook over Tommy Robinson claims|last=Jolly|first=Bradley|date=January 21, 2019|work=Mirror}}</ref><ref name="facebookjamalrobinson">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/21/bullied-syrian-schoolboy-to-sue-facebook-over-tommy-robinson-claims|title=Bullied Syrian schoolboy to sue Facebook over Tommy Robinson claims|last=Halliday|first=Josh|date=January 21, 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of New York state and 47 other state and regional governments filed separate suits against Facebook on December 9, 2020, seeking antitrust action based on its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsUp among other companies, calling these practices as anticompetitive. The suits also assert that in acquiring these products, they weakened their privacy measures for their users. The suits, besides other fines, seek to unwind the acquisitions from Facebook.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/9/22158483/facebook-antitrust-lawsuit-anti-competition-behavior-attorneys-general | title = The FTC is suing Facebook to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp |first1= Nick | last1= Statt | first2= Russell |last2=Brandom | date = December 9, 2020 | access-date = December 9, 2020 | work = The Verge }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebook-hit-with-antitrust-suit-from-ftc-and-48-states-targeted-at-acquisitions-11607543049 | title = Facebook hit with antitrust suits from FTC, 48 AGs to 'unwind' Instagram, WhatsApp transactions | first = Jon | last = Swartz |date = December 9, 2020 | access-date = December 9, 2020 | work = [[Marketwatch]] }}</ref> On January 6, 2022, France's data privacy regulatory body [[CNIL]] fined Facebook a 60 million euros for not allowing its internet users an easy refusal of [[HTTP cookie|cookies]] along with [[Google]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rosemain|first=Mathieu|date=January 6, 2022|title=Google hit with 150 mln euro French fine for cookie breaches|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-imposes-fines-facebook-ireland-google-2022-01-06/|access-date=January 6, 2022}}</ref> On December 22, 2022, the Quebec Court of Appeal approved a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Facebook users who claim they were discriminated against because the platform allows advertisers to target both job and housing advertisements based on various factors, including age, gender, and even race.<ref name="Facebook-lawsuit">{{cite news|last =Thompson |first =Elizabeth |title =Class-action lawsuit against Facebook claiming discrimination gets the green light|newspaper =[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|location =Quebec|language =English |publisher =CBC|date =January 4, 2023|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/facebook-lawsuit-discrimination-ads-1.6702606|access-date =January 10, 2023 }}</ref> The lawsuit centres on the platform's practice of "micro targeting ads", claiming ads are ensured to appear only in the feeds of people who belong to certain targeted groups. Women, for example, would not see ads targeting men, while older generation men would not see an ad aimed at people between 18 and 45.<ref name="Facebook-lawsuit"/> The class action could include thousands of Quebec residents who have been using the platform as early as April 2016, who were seeking jobs or housing during that period.<ref name="Facebook-lawsuit"/> Facebook has 60 days after the court's December 22 ruling to decide to appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. If it does not appeal, the case returns to the Quebec Superior Court.<ref name="Facebook-lawsuit"/> === Minors exposed to sexual content on VR apps === In February 2022, a [[BBC News]] researcher posing as a 13-year-old girl witnessed grooming, sexual material, racist insults and a rape threat on the [[VRChat]] app. The [[National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children]] head of online child safety policy Andy Burrows added the investigation had found "a toxic combination of risks". The BBC researcher downloaded VRChat from an app store on Facebook's [[Meta Quest]] headset, with no age verification checks – the only requirement being a Facebook account. The BBC News researcher created a fake profile to set up her account – and her real identity was not checked.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60415317 |title=Metaverse app allows kids into virtual strip clubs |work=[[BBC News]]|date= February 23, 2022|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/metaverse-app-allows-kids-virtual-081835947.html |title=Metaverse app allows kids into virtual strip clubs |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=February 23, 2022 |access-date=February 25, 2022 |archive-date=February 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225204518/https://www.yahoo.com/now/metaverse-app-allows-kids-virtual-081835947.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> While Oculus has a form where users can report abuse, the [[Center for Countering Digital Hate]] claims Meta rarely takes them seriously; although reporting 100 policy violations on Oculus, they did not receive a response. Imran Ahmed, the charity's chief executive, branded it "a cesspit of hate, pornography and child grooming".<ref>Roper, Matt (February 9, 2022). [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/predators-use-virtual-reality-chatroom-26186533 "Predators use virtual reality chatroom to target children on popular gaming device."] ''[[Daily Mirror|Mirror.co.uk]]''. Retrieved February 27, 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.counterhate.com/post/new-research-shows-metaverse-is-not-safe-for-kids |title=New research shows Metaverse is not safe for kids |publisher=Counterhate.com |date=December 30, 2021 |accessdate=February 25, 2022}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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