Haugen has triggered a deep crisis at Mark Zuckerberg’s social media empire after she leaked tens of thousands of internal documents detailing the company’s failure to keep users safe from harmful content.
Today Haugen, 37, will testify in person at the joint committee scrutinising the draft online safety bill, a piece of legislation that places a duty of care on social media companies to protect users – with the threat of substantial fines if they fail to do so.
Speaking to the Observer before the hearing, Haugen said Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, chief executive and controlling shareholder, had not shown any readiness to protect the public. “Right now, Mark is unaccountable,” she said. “He has all the control. He has no oversight, and he has not demonstrated that he is willing to govern the company at the level that is necessary for public safety.”
This story is from the October 25, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 25, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Thousands of people displaced as floods cause chaos in Kenya
Kenya is grappling with floods that have killed 257 people across the east African nation, after weeks of torrential rainfall scientists have linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Deepfake scam targets CEO of world's biggest ad firm
The head of the world's biggest advertising group was the target of an elaborate deepfake scam involving an artificial intelligence voice clone.
No Ken do Blunt, stunts and Gosling: how did The Fall Guy flop?
On paper, it couldn't fail.
"Today we flee again' Palestinians seek safety from strikes on Rafah
Under a blazing summer sun, tens of thousands of Palestinians fled Israeli bombardment and clashes with Hamas militants in Rafah yesterday, choking roads with carts, bicycles, pickup trucks and wheelchairs.
Style, but no substance? Dismay as Met Gala loses political edge
As pro-Palestinian protests unfolded blocks away, the Met Gala, which took place in New York on Monday evening, unfolded devoid of political statement.
Labour Is Starmer pushing party base too far?
Two days after defecting to Labour, the former Conservative Natalie Elphicke stood in front of a pure red backdrop as she introduced Keir Starmer in her Dover constituency - on the frontline of the battle over stopping small boat crossings.
NFU lobbied minister to increase amount of pesticides allowed in drinking water
The National Farmers' Union lobbied to increase the amount of pesticides allowed in the UK's drinking water and to allow farmers to spread manure more frequently as part of a post-Brexit loosening of environmental regulations, it can be revealed.
Are you kidding me? Italian island inundated with offers to adopt its roaming goats
When the mayor of a remote Italian island grappling with an overpopulation of wild goats offered to give the animals away, he anticipated a smattering of interest from farmers on neighbouring isles who were perhaps keen to boost their production of ricotta cheese.
Service sector growth helps to pull UK out of recession
The UK is officially out of recession after figures showed that the economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year.
Disunited in music Frustration and fury as Israel row clouds Eurovision
The official motto of the 68th edition of Eurovision is “united by music”, but as the continent’s sequined masses descended on the Swedish city of Malmö for tonight’s grand final, music’s ability to heal and bridge divides was looking in serious doubt.
