When Facebook “whistleblower” Frances Haugen came on as a guest of leftist, pro-censorship New York Times podcast host Kara Swisher’s show, Haugen had one core question related to Facebook’s “misinformation” efforts: “Will they go far enough?”
Swisher claimed that Facebook shouldn’t be “choking people in the dark,” which HaugenDuring the podcast, he agreed. Haugen also advocated for a “free market of ideas” online. Haugen, however, stated that Facebook subsidises hate-to-make money. She suggested more censorship. “Facebook has done a really good job of distracting us with the censorship debate,” Haugen complained. She doesn’t appear to be all too concerned about Facebook’s biased censorship, believing discussion of the issue is an obstacle to the changes for which she advocates.
“Will [Facebook] go far enough” in its reform efforts around areas including alleged “misinformation?” Haugen pondered. “I don’t think they will until we have more mandated transparency.” Haugen tried to claim that her objection to “hate” online is that it thwarts the “free market of ideas.” She did not explain how increased targeting of so-called “misinformation” could be compatible with such a free market of ideas.
Swisher, Haugen and others slammed Andrew Bosworth (Facebook executive), who has been pushing back against new censorship requests. Bosworth claimed that Facebook needed to be “democratic” in allowing speech on the platform, and added that individuals must be responsible for what they consume, not just social media platforms. Haugen claimed that Bosworth was blaming “the victim.”
Haugen’s proposed algorithmic changes to social media would include “friction” to make sharing certain content more difficult on Facebook. Swisher agreed, with an elitist argument for censorship, “So you’re saying we should stop, we should help [users] stop and think before they do something stupid?” Haugen responded, “Yes.” The “whistleblower” condemned one view shared by some Facebook employees that “more speech” is a solution for “bad speech.”
Haugen admitted to Swisher that members of her “comms team” had previously worked for Democratic campaigns and that the nonprofit Luminate, a network member of leftist eBay founder and billionaire Pierre Omidyar, had paid “operational” expenses for her. Yet Swisher mocked reports pointing to the questionable nature of Haugen’s politically leftist advisors. Haugen also denied that she was incentivized by a potentially large financial reward for her “whistleblowing,” though Haugen then mused over how she would invest the money if she received it. The “whistleblower” even said that she would work for Facebook again if offered, because she still believes its work is important. Haugen wants to start a movement of young people who drive “rituals of governance” around Big Tech.
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