Outing Herself, Whistleblower Says Facebook ‘Optimizes’ Misinformation
The Facebook staffer who shared thousands of pages of internal documents with the Wall Street Journal revealed her identity on 60 Minutes last night, saying the social media giant is aware of the harm bad info on its platforms can cause during the pandemic and on teen mental health.
The New York Times:
Whistle-Blower Says Facebook ‘Chooses Profits Over Safety’
On Sunday, Frances Haugen revealed herself to be “Sean,” the whistle-blower against Facebook. A product manager who worked for nearly two years on the civic misinformation team at the social network before leaving in May, Ms. Haugen has used the documents she amassed to expose how much Facebook knew about the harms that it was causing and provided the evidence to lawmakers, regulators and the news media. (Mac and Kang, 10/3)
Politico:
Facebook Whistleblower Reveals Herself, Condemns Company As Dangerous
Frances Haugen came out publicly on Sunday as the Facebook whistleblower whose revelations have in recent weeks prompted a congressional investigation into the company, public hearings with its executives and extensive reporting in The Wall Street Journal about the social network’s harmful effects on young children and teens. The social media giant has since faced intense backlash from critics outraged by its plans to expand into that market despite being aware of the dangers it could pose to younger users. (Levine and Cohen, 10/3)
CBS News:
Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen: The 60 Minutes Interview
Frances Haugen says in her time with Facebook she saw, "conflicts of interest between what was good for the public and what was good for Facebook." Scott Pelley reports. (10/3)
The Wall Street Journal:
The Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, Says She Wants To Fix The Company, Not Harm It
The former Facebook Inc. employee who gathered documents that formed the foundation of The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook Files series said she acted to help prompt change at the social-media giant, not to stir anger toward it. Frances Haugen, a former product manager hired to help protect against election interference on Facebook, said she had grown frustrated by what she saw as the company’s lack of openness about its platforms’ potential for harm and unwillingness to address its flaws. She is scheduled to testify before Congress on Tuesday. She has also sought federal whistleblower protection with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Horwitz, 10/3)
