Blumenthal: “What provokes a reaction will keep us scrolling”
Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Subcommittee holds hearing on “Protecting Kids Online: Testimony from a Facebook Whistleblower.” The whistleblower, identified as Frances Haugen, accused her former employer of “tearing our societies apart.” YouTube Tips ⓘ
Facebook whistleblower and former Facebook Product Manager Frances Haugen testified on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection hearing on the business practices and decisions of Facebook and Instagram. The hearing focused on on how to protect children online with privacy regulations. Frances Haugen said that as long as the social media company hides its research from public scrutiny, Facebook would be unaccountable. Lawmakers’ focused on how Facebook targets teens and pre-teens, and how the company uses algorithms in Facebook and Instagram to promote content to children that the company knows is harmful to children.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. provided the opening statement.
Highlights of Sen. Blumenthal’s introduction indicated Facebook is choosing profit over safety, even when it knows the algorithm Facebook uses to deliver content and recommendation to teens and pre-teens is harmful and toxic.
Sen.Blumenthal began his opening statement complimenting Frances Haugen, recognizing that Haugen was armed with documents that showed that Facebook put profits ahead of people …
“Among other revelations the information that you (Frances Haugen) have provided to Congress is powerful proof that Facebook knew its products were harming teenagers. Facebook exploited teens using powerful out algorithms that amplified their insecurities and abuses through what it found was an addict’s narrative. There is a question which I hope you will discuss as to whether there is such a thing as a safe algorithm. Facebook saw teens creating secret accounts that are often hidden from their parents as unique value propositions in their words a unique value proposition — a way to drive up numbers for advertisers and shareholders at the expense of safety, and it doubled down on targeting children pushing products on pre-teens — not just teens, but pre-teens — that it knows are harmful to our kids’ mental health and well-being. Instead of telling parents, Facebook concealed the facts, it sought to stonewall and block this information from becoming public, including to this committee when Senator Blackburn and I specifically asked the company … and still even now as of just last Thursday when a Facebook witness came forth me it has refused disclosure, or even to tell us when it might decide whether to disclose additional documents. And they’ve continued their tactics even after they knew the disruption it caused. It isn’t just that they made money from these practices, but they continue to profit from them. Their profit was more important than the pain that they caused. Last Thursday the message from Ms Antigone Davis, Facebook‘s Global Head of Safety was simple, quote, “this research is not a bombshell“ end quote, and she repeated the line, “not a bombshell.” Well this research is the very definition of a bombshell.
Facebook and Big Tech are facing a Big Tobacco moment — a day of reckoning.”
Sen. Blumenthal went on to compare Big Tobacco’s discovery that cigarettes caused cancer and their subsequent response to hide the research that discovered cigarettes were harmful.
“Facebook knows its products can be addictive and toxic to children, and it’s not just that they made money, again, it’s that they value their profit more than the pain that they cause the children and their families. The damage to self interest and self worth inflicted by Facebook today will haunt a generation. Feelings of inadequacy and insecurity rejection and self-hatred will impact this generation for years to come. Our children are the ones who are victims. Teens today looking at themselves in the mirror feel doubt and insecurity. Mark Zuckerberg ought to be looking at himself in the mirror today and yet rather than taking responsibility and showing dealership, Mr. Zuckerberg is going sailing. His new modus operandi? No apology, no admission, no action, nothing to see here. Mark Zuckerberg, you need to come before this committee you need to explain to Frances Haugen, to us, to the world, and to the parents of America what you were doing and why you did it
“Instagram‘s business model is pretty straightforward: more eyeballs, more dollars … everything Facebook does is to add more users and keep them on their apps for longer. In order to hook us Instagram users are private information to precisely target us with content and recommendations assessing that what will provoke a reaction will keep us scrolling. Far too often these recommendations encourage our most destructive and dangerous behaviors. As we showed on Thursday we created a fake account — my office and I did — as a teen interested in extreme dieting and eating disorders. Instagram latched on to that teenager’s initial insecurities … it then pushed more content and recommendations glorifying eating disorders. That’s how Instagram’s algorithms can push teens into darker and darker places. Facebook’s own researchers called it Instagram’s “perfect storm” exacerbating downward spirals. Facebook, as you have put it, having so powerfully maximizes profits and ignores pain. Facebook’s failure to acknowledge and to act makes it morally bankrupt. Again and again Facebook rejected reforms recommended by its own research. Last week Miss Davis said “we’re looking at” no specific plans, no commitments, only vague platitude. These documents that you have revealed provided this company with a blueprint for reform; it provided specific recommendations that could’ve made Facebook and Instagram safer. The company repeatedly ignore those recommendations from its own researchers that would’ve made Facebook and Instagram safer.
“Facebook researchers have suggested changing their recommendations to stop promoting accounts known to encourage dangerous body comparison. Instead of making meaningful changes, Facebook simply pays lip service and if they won’t now and if big tech won’t act, Congress has to intervene. Privacy action is long overdue. Senator Markey and I have introduced The Kid’s Act which would ban addictive tactics that Facebook uses to exploit children. Parents deserve better tools to protect their children. I’m also a firm supporter of reforming Section 230. We should consider narrowing this sweeping immunity when platforms’ algorithms amplify illegal conduct … you commented on this in your testimony, and perhaps you’ll expanded on it. We have also heard compelling recommendations about requiring disclosures of research and independent reviews of these platforms’ algorithms, and I plan to pursue these ideas. The Securities and Exchange Commission should investigate your intentions and claims, Ms. Haugen; and so should the Federal Trade Commission. Facebook appears to have mislead the public and investors, and if that’s correct it ought to face real penalties as a result of that misleading and deceptive misrepresentation.”
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Frances Haugen
Former Product Manager Facebook
Antigone Davis
Global Head of Safety, Facebook
(testified remotely)
Marsha Blackburn
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[R] Tennessee
Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[D] Connecticut
Maria Cantwell
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[D] Washington
Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[R] Texas
John W Hickenlooper
U.S. Senator
[D] Colorado
Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[D] Minnesota
Mike Lee
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[R] Utah
Ben Ray Luján
U.S. Senator
[D] New Mexico
Cynthia Lummis
U.S. Senator
[R] Wyoming
Edward J. Markey
U.S. Senator (Class 2)
[D] Massachusetts
Jerry Moran
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[R] Kansas
Brian E. Schatz
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[D] Hawaii
Rick Scott
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[R] Florida
Dan Sullivan
U.S. Senator (Class 2)
[R] Alaska
John Thune
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[R] South Dakota
Roger Wicker
U.S. Senator (Class 1)
[R] Mississippi
Todd Young
U.S. Senator (Class 3)
[R] Indiana
