Finally. Today at 10am we’ll hear testimony from NYU researchers ⬇️ who Facebook sent a cease and desist as they gathered microtargeting info on political ads then banned outright as they gathered January 6th incitement info. Zuckerberg got to speak first.
https://twitter.com/michellemanafy/status/1423256726548230144
Facebook tried to position the decision as based on FTC consent order around privacy but the FTC dismissed that publicly in a rare open letter. And press were all over it appreciatively.
https://twitter.com/issielapowsky/status/1423085474521001986
Here is a link to 10am hearing if you want to hear and share why Facebook shut down the researchers access. What’s Facebook hiding? The public deserves that they #DiscloseTheData. Helpful to share that hashtag and link. 🙏🏽 science.house.gov/hearings/the-d…
And @LauraEdelson2 is doing the testifying so you have her handle. She and her colleague Damon McCoy wrote this in the New York Times last month. They’re both amazing researchers just trying to protect the public by studying what Facebook refuses to share. nytimes.com/2021/08/10/opi…
If you think blocking access for academics scrutinizing Facebookland is something a hostile foreign power might do then you’ve now connected the dots to @AdrienneLaF cover story. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
I’ll thread hearing commentary here. Safe to say for a hearing focused on disinformation, it got off with a bang. Wait for it. Chairwoman @RepEBJ having filter issues - we can all relate.
Dr. Alan Mislove describes Facebook as actively hostile to outside research.
Next up is Laura Edelson. She also uses the words, "outright hostility" to describe Facebook's threats of legal action against external researchers who are then chilled and can't afford legal options.
Next up is Laura Edelson. She also uses the words, "outright hostility" to describe Facebook's threats of legal action against external researchers who are then chilled and can't afford legal options.
Dr. Mislove debunks Facebook's privacy claims as a reason for blocking external research. He does acknowledge there may be a "privacy" in quotes risk to its actual customers (advertisers) as their strategy could be better understood.
Edelson now being asked about her call for enriching Crowdtangle with more data - specifically impression data. Is this the right spot to remind everyone that Facebook miraculously acquired Crowdtangle a few days after 2016 election and days prior to CEO Zuckerberg deflecting?
aargh, I won't name the member of Congress but he just stated my pet peeve - you absolutely *can* yell "fire" in a crowded theatre. especially when there is a damn fire.
good question by @SeanCasten referencing WSJ reporting on Facebook's exemption list for certain speakers. Edelson calls it backward pointing out heightened obligation with influencers. Casten also points out that freedom of speech is different than freedom of reach. ht @noUpside
Bombs starting to drop. @LauraEdelson2 performs a clinic on accountability for Facebook’s core profit model referencing their own data.
Taking a moment to share this incredibly powerful testimony by @LauraEdelson2 as @RepCasten compared ability for heroes to anticipate and prevent further harm on 9/11, “Facebook knowing it’s causing harm and choosing not to act” and how that may apply to January 6th.
Dr Mislove then points out why the questions of what Facebook knew and could anticipate in terms of its effects goes to “the heart of the hearing.” It’s why Facebook needs to reinstate access to these researchers.
Edelson then follows up on a question regarding consequences of Covid misinformation on sickness and death, “Misinformation is killing people.” Says Facebook is contributing to it and not having access prevents public understanding of it.
Hearing closes with repeated call to return access to the NYU researchers and broaden available data which @RepCasten characterizes as “the bare minimum to demonstrate that they [Facebook] give a damn.”
Twitter thread broke so reconnecting here. Don’t miss this answer.
https://twitter.com/jason_kint/status/1442876073549590534
One parenthetical from me. That was a super smart hearing. I repeat that members of Congress have a much better understanding of the issues as we do more and more hearings. Subcommittees allow deeper probing and it’s remarkably bipartisan. Grateful citizen. Thanks 🙏🏽
To my last point, it seems a few subject-matter expert journalists in this hearing also agree. Hat tip to the nerds committee ;) also since subject is misinfo, I also point out Facebook lobby continues to characterize Congress by Apr 2018 hearings when they’ve all gotten smarter.
https://twitter.com/BrandyZadrozny/status/1442870561260982274
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
