Advertisement

Updated November 2nd, 2021 at 15:30 IST

Whistleblower: Facebook's actions 'unconscionable'

The whistleblower behind the Facebook papers said on Monday that millions of lives were on the line had she not leaked documents about the social media giant's practices.

| Image:self
Advertisement

The whistleblower behind the Facebook papers said on Monday that millions of lives were on the line had she not leaked documents about the social media giant's practices.

Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen appeared candid as she faced the tens of thousands of attendees of the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, saying she had never felt more afraid than she did waiting to come out on stage, not even when she became the face behind the leak.

In recent days Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company is rebranding itself as Meta in an effort to encompass its virtual-reality vision for the future, what Zuckerberg calls the "metaverse."

For Haugen the move just shows how the company is not listening.

Stating that the leaked documents shows a need for investment for "resources on very basic safety systems," she criticised the move to invest in "10,000 engineers in video games."

Skeptics point out that the name change also appears to be an attempt to change the subject from the leaked documents.

Many of these documents, first described by Haugen, have revealed how Facebook ignored or downplayed internal warnings of the negative and often harmful consequences its algorithms wreaked across the world.

Zuckerberg says he expects the metaverse to reach a billion people within the next decade.

The announcement comes amid an existential crisis for Facebook.

It faces heightened legislative and regulatory scrutiny in many parts of the world following the revelations in the Facebook Papers.

The Web Summit kicked off on Monday and is said to be world's biggest tech summit gathering startups, entrepreneurs and leaders from around the globe.

 

Advertisement

Published November 2nd, 2021 at 15:30 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Kerala Nirmal Lottery Sambad Friday Result
a few seconds ago
How to Keep Yourself Safe from Unhealthy Air?
5 minutes ago
TMC Delgation at ECI Office
17 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
24 minutes ago
Raw Mango
25 minutes ago
Gen Z worker goes to the salon while “working from home”
27 minutes ago
Lionel Messi
28 minutes ago
Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
30 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
33 minutes ago
Tie-dye printed shirts
38 minutes ago
Sri Lanka on High Alert on Good Friday
39 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo