ok, Facebook whistleblower testifying again today @ 12:45pm ET. This time to EU Parliament. I expect her super important evidence will be what we've already heard in Senate Commerce, UK Parliament testimony plus strong press reporting led by Wall Street Journal. However ... /1
It will be provided in context of a package of two, fast-moving and critically important draft regulations (DSA/DMA). So here is my key point: her evidence should only heighten attention to market power and already underway antitrust investigation by European Commission. /2
Facebook and friends have managed to reframe DSA to be a ban on "targeted ads" when the core issue at hand for users and failing market incentives is Facebook's surveillance, in collecting and using our data, when users aren't even choosing to interact with the company. /3
and the DMA (Digital Markets Act) specifically addresses "gatekeepers" with the potential to mirror strong antitrust enforcement against Facebook in Germany that says gatekeepers must silo their data so FB, Insta, WhatsApp can't mix data or collect data off their apps. /4
and again, EC is also rightly investigating FB, for allegations already in multiple antitrust suits in US ranging from burying competition to consumer harms to collusion. Full speed ahead, use the evidence today to lock in dealing with the heightened market power. See Ireland. /5
FB whistleblower deserves great praise but with respect is beyond her expertise when asked about solutions and suggests she wants FB to go thru self-help rather than antitrust enforcement. Instagram doesn't need Facebook's resources to improve, what they need is competition. /6
And reminder as to EU Parliament, this is the same body who conducted the most bizarre hearing I've ever seen allowing Zuckerberg, in the middle of Facebook's largest ongoing cover-up, to testify in spring 2018 by listening to questions then deciding what he wanted to answer. /7
this hearing happened as UK Parliament was demanding Zuckerberg testify. He ultimately refused summons under threat of subpoena and instead, according to FOIA docs, directly threatened UK minister with reduced funding if they didn't back off.
So your issue is market power. /8
So your issue is market power. /8
Everything I shared above is intended with love, EU (and also UK) has significant opportunities to rein in Facebook thru 1) laws sitting in front of them to approve, 2) proper enforcement of GDPR, 3) German decision integrating antitrust and data, 4) EC filing antitrust suit. /9
It's just important they use these opportunities to build political will and share consistent evidence across parties. The problem with Facebook is obvious once you understand the facts and carve out their lobby $. Here is a link to watch at 12:45pm. /eof europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-…
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