Thread by @justinhendrix

Blumenthal gavels in. #Facebook #Hearing

Blumenthal describes "relentless campaign to recruit and exploit" children and teens. "It choose the growth of its products over the well being" of children, and it is "indefensibly delinquent".

"How can we, parents or anyone, trust Facebook?"

Blumenthal calls out letter he and Marsha Blackburn sent in August. Calls response evasive. Says the company knows the harm it is causing. "They know children struggle with addiction on Instagram, and they didn't want to admit it."

"This is a pattern of findings repeated across sophisticated studies that Facebook itself conducted... Facebook formal findings and conclusions..... Facebook has routinely prioritized its own rapid growth over basic safety for our children," says Blumenthal.

Blumenthal says his office created an account purporting to be a 13 year old girl, within a day they were able to follow and receive recommendations that would promote eating disorders. "Facebook has taken big tobacco's playbook," hiding what it knows.

Blackburn details various results of the research. References how Facebook thought to use "playdates" to attract children to its Messenger Kids service and to use older siblings to recruit younger children.

Wicker brings up issues around content moderation and removal of content from users.... says WSJ XCheck program is an example of why Facebook might want to keep its policies secret.

Davis says "Facebook remains a leader" in online safety.

Davis says "we strongly disagree with how this reporting characterized our work" and suggests the research shows Instagram HELPS teens feel better about themselves.

In all of Davis's talks, she emphasizes her experience as a mother. She does so here, referencing her daughter and saying she wished she had some of the tools Facebook is currently developing.

Davis maintains "more teen girls find Instagram helpful than not"

Blumenthal interrupts, "these are you own reports... will you disclose all of the reports, all of the findings."

Davis says "I want to be clear that this research is not a bombshell"

Blumenthal ... disagrees.

Davis disagrees with Blumenthal's description of Facebook's growth goals and business model.

Blackburn congratulates Davis on her "perfectly curated background" and says "I wish the message you were bringing us was as attractive."

Blackburn is asking her about threats from Apple to remove Facebook from the app store over advertisements that sought to recruit women into slavery.

"Are you still allowing sex trafficking on Facebook? Is this something that girls as young as 8 are exposed to?" asks Blackburn, before moving on to a Facebook graphic about targeting younger and younger children.

(picking back up, had to do an interview)

Blumenthal pushes Davis on who will make the decision to disclose findings.... whether Zuckerberg will make that decision... when it might happen.

Davis hits talking points on Oversight Board, transparency report, etc.

Blumenthal says that is one of the most discouraging responses she has given.... says Senate only knows what it knows because a whistleblower came forward.

"We take these issues very seriously," says Davis.

Where have I heard that before?

Blackburn asks about parental consent on research with minors, and asks her to submit forms for the record. Davis twice says she will "bring the request" back to the team, but does not promise to bring copies of the consent forms.

Once again, Davis says the research is "not a bombshell". Says the research shows Facebook takes these issues seriously and that it correlates to results from Harvard, etc.

Senator Cruz asks Davis where she is right now. She says she is in D.C. in a conference room. Cruz asks why she isn't there. She points to COVID protocols. "It is witnesses that want to hide and avoid us" that aren't in the room, Cruz says.

Cruz presses Davis to release the underlying research particularly on the relationship to suicide. Cruz does appear not to understand the statistical distinction she is making.

Cruz presses Davis on whether it has undertaken research on the causal connection to suicide, when she says it is complicated he says, "I understand Facebook needs to make a buck," suggesting the company should be investing in that answer.

Mike Lee is asking a variety of questions about how Facebook manages content for children, how it controls for adult materials and age ratings.

Seems like Davis may be in a room with advisors and lawyers. Would have to confirm but assume she is going on mute to check with them on questions like this one.

Blumenthal asks Davis to commit to take no legal action against the whistleblower. Davis says she is aware there are rules and that she will comply. Blumenthal wants a more complete commitment. Davis will only answer that they will not retaliate for her speaking to the Senate.

Davis seems to be leaving open the possibility they may retaliate somehow for the whistleblower going to the WSJ...

Davis, asked about whether the FB business model is about driving engagement, pivots back to the idea that changes to NewsFeed to drive more meaningful conversations that reduced time on site prove that is not how they build their products.

"Do you have evidence that those issues- isolation, mental health- that those mental health challenges are actually helped by using Instagram more or less?"

Davis says the research is not causal. She pivots back to message that research is being used to make product changes.

Senator Sullivan asks whether the Chinese limitations on children's access to digital media is a good idea.

Davis says it is complicated, points to benefits to kids during COVID. "I would certainly like for apps like ours to build experiences where parents can have some control"

"What do you think of the Chinese edict?"

"As a parent, I'd much prefer to be able to determine my child's time online than to have China tell me how to raise my child."