Thread by @markscott82

.@Facebook watchers — Zuck just dropped this hour long chat w/ Mathias Dopfner, head of Axel Springer & arch US tech antagonist (disclosure: Springer owns half of POLITICO’s EU outfit) bit.ly/2FOOuDH

Haven’t watched the whole thing yet but it’s important b/c 1) Springer has major political clout in Germany (just ask Google), 2) Dopfner is VERY outspoken (read this Q&A w/ Welt bit.ly/2FPHQxb) & 3) FB needs to keep ppl like Springer happy

3) Fun fact — Springer gave Zuck its inaugural Axel Springer award back in 2016 when FB was seen as the ‘good’ US tech giant vs Google’s ‘bad behavior.’ Don’t believe me? Here’s the photo bit.ly/2FR2ugj

4) Zuck say he’s thinking about ppl using FB can get more news (remember, FB changed algorithm to downplay news). Good times.

5) This video interview is both PR cringe-worthy and unplanned. So so awkward.

6) Zuck wants a separate news service on FB that helps to monetize news. Wants new forms of journalism to thrive. No discussion of greater ad revenue share w/ publishers. Not yet, at least...

7) And we’re now onto EU copyright reforms (Springer wants tech companies more for other people’s copy). Zuck bats away FB paying more for publishing licenses. Says it’s ‘something we need to think about.’

Translation: “sure, sure."

8) So I’m confused. FB changes algorithm to play down news on people’s feeds. Now Zuck wants to create a FB-based news service, based on other people’s content.

Whaaaaa?

9) Zuck on new privacy push: "there needs to be a rich platform built on top of all the private ways you interact w/ people...”

“This is the next big thing that people want to get built. This is a very big shift for us."

10) More on privacy: “A lot of the scrutiny has made me think a lot more deeply about privacy in these issues. I also look at how people are using the products.”

So that’s a privacy push based on 1) regulatory pushback & 2) biz case

11) “People recognize it’s a liability too to have all this content around…”

“People increasingly recognize that having all this data around yes, it can be used for valuable things, but also can be a liability over time."

12) “That’s going to become the norm. That’s just a very big shift in value and culture for us, that we do that pivot."

13) And onto data portability/privacy: “I’ve always believe in portability (editor’s note: eye raise).”

14) Ugh. Zuck just used the verb ‘architected.” No, no.

15) On Europe’s privacy standards: “GDPR from Europe is a very good foundation for data privacy regulation. I would like other countries around the world to adopt something similar to that.

<<cough>> it already is de facto global standard <<cough>> politi.co/2Ebo9Qn

16) On regulation: “There’s a clear need for society to define what the responsibility is for companies and what are the responsibility of govts. We don’t want a private company to make all of these decisions”

Take-away: hey govts, it’s up to you.

17) "I don’t think it should be up to any particular company to define what harmful content is.”

Problem — that’s already happening: politi.co/2OwjBW2

18) “More of this process needs to be external, independent.” Zuck talks about independent board they’re setting up to review content. No detail on that, though. Taking this year to consult on how to figure it out.

So, we have to wait until 2020. Just in time for US election...

19) Dopfner now warning Zuck about growing influence on China. Zuck looks super awkward. Fun times.

20) Zuck dodges bullet, changes to focus on the ‘optimistic case’ of democracy & creating more transparency. I mean, I get that. I agree. But he skipped the question about the growing role of authoritarian govts in future of digital world

21) On Zuck’s daughters & his change of priorities: “That, and the events of last few years, certainly have created a massive sense of sense of responsibility to minimize harm."

22) “I do think that over the long term, giving people a voice & helping people connect with the people they care about, I think that over time, it will help us build a stronger social fabric.”

Can I give anyone a hug?

23) OK, that was a quick skim. But take-outs: 1) Zuck wants a FB-based news service filled with other people’s content, 2) FB’s new privacy push is because of regulatory/biz case needs, 3) Zuck earnestly believes that FB has role to play in promoting democratic principles...

24) Privacy is the new battleground; Zuck wants politicians to set rules, not FB.

And, finally, both Zuck & Dopfner like a good man-spread.

Rant over. Thoughts appreciated.