THREAD: Today, Facebook announced its new efforts to address the problem of Groups. But its track record on the issue leaves much to be desired.
Over the past year, the Groups feature has been used to organize violence, share bomb making instructions, and recruit militia.
Over the past year, the Groups feature has been used to organize violence, share bomb making instructions, and recruit militia.
https://twitter.com/fbnewsroom/status/1372201520905777158
First, let's remember that less than two years ago at its annual F8 summit, Facebook announced that it would be pivoting to make the Groups feature a central part of the platform.
buzzfeednews.com/article/nicole…
buzzfeednews.com/article/nicole…
Facebook's announcement highlights its recent efforts to stop recommending certain groups.
"we recently removed civic and political groups, as well as newly created groups, from recommendations in the US."
But that is false. They're still recommending civic groups TODAY. 👇👇
"we recently removed civic and political groups, as well as newly created groups, from recommendations in the US."
But that is false. They're still recommending civic groups TODAY. 👇👇
For nearly a year, TTP's investigations on militia movements like the boogaloo have shed light on the dangerous role of Facebook Groups.
Facebook relies on Group admins to moderate content. But when a Group is full of like-minded people, like militia. No one is going to report.
Facebook relies on Group admins to moderate content. But when a Group is full of like-minded people, like militia. No one is going to report.
The combination of failure to effectively moderate harmful content combined with the algorithmic amplification of that content has helped these bourgeoning militia groups on the platform.
See the case of the militia plot to kidnap Gov Whitmer.
See the case of the militia plot to kidnap Gov Whitmer.
https://twitter.com/justinhendrix/status/1367960798254006274?s=20
Facebook recommending harmful Groups is nothing new.
TTP's #BrokenPromises series showed how the platform was still recommending boogaloo Groups *months* after the platform claimed it had stopped recommendations in a PR statement similar to the one today. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/faceb…
TTP's #BrokenPromises series showed how the platform was still recommending boogaloo Groups *months* after the platform claimed it had stopped recommendations in a PR statement similar to the one today. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/faceb…
Facebook's PR statement claims it will warn users attempting to join a Group with policy violations.
But if like-minded Group members don't report content, those policy strikes won't exist.
And if a Group does have policy violations that trigger this, why is it still active?
But if like-minded Group members don't report content, those policy strikes won't exist.
And if a Group does have policy violations that trigger this, why is it still active?
Facebook makes no distinction in the policy violations it's addressing. This statement is vague on details.
Is a violation for election misinfo weighed the same as a violation for sharing bomb-making instructions? How many bomb instructions are shared before a group is removed?
Is a violation for election misinfo weighed the same as a violation for sharing bomb-making instructions? How many bomb instructions are shared before a group is removed?
Even if users make engage in violating activity, Facebook's statement makes clear it has no plans to *stop* those users, only slow their reach.
But what if those years are, for instance, a Group for militia planning to kidnap a Governor or attack protesters?
But what if those years are, for instance, a Group for militia planning to kidnap a Governor or attack protesters?
Facebook is already failing.
Just two days ago a user posted a call for people to join a Three Percenter militia group in New York.
The post remains active, carries no warnings, and has 192 comments from interested Group members.
Don't buy Facebook's PR at face value.
Just two days ago a user posted a call for people to join a Three Percenter militia group in New York.
The post remains active, carries no warnings, and has 192 comments from interested Group members.
Don't buy Facebook's PR at face value.
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