Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen visited the USC Annenberg Forum yesterday to discuss her path from Facebook employee to whistleblower, the spread of misinformation, and the future of technology.
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Frances Haugen made international headlines when she revealed that Facebook was prioritizing profit over people, profit over information, and even profit over democracy.
FRANCES HAUGEN: When I was in France, one of the people in the French assembly described the situation as one of digital colonialism. So for reference, colonialism is where you have a power that has actual power. It was an agent has power and they are extracting economically from another population and leaving all the consequences, but not giving any control to the party that is paying the costs. And that is exactly what’s happening today with Facebook.
Haugen is hopeful that effective legislation that prioritizes transparency will pass.
HAUGEN: I’m really, really hoping, fingers crossed that the Digital Services Act passes because that will be our first mandate of transparency anywhere in the world.
HAUGEN: Last summer, the United Kingdom passed rules giving greater protections to under 16-year-olds. And what was amazing was the same week that went to effect Instagram changed how it operated, right? Instagram came in and said, We’re not going allow targeting of ads at people under the age of 16.
Regions like Africa, Southeast Asia South America are more affected by Facebook’s irresponsible online activity more than ever. Haugen encourages other countries to advocate for the digital safety laws they deserve.
HAUGEN: There’s a huge opportunity for smaller countries. You know, Canada, Singapore. You can imagine a consortium of countries in Africa coming in and saying you have to respect our, our experience and our needs.
Haugen’s upcoming book is all about agency and advocating for what is right. She encourages USC students to embody this idea.
HAUGEN: We have to be protesting like like part what I really want insight from like student leaders or other young adults who have experience with organizing. We have to be protesting for more transparency because the thing that is happening is only going to happen. More is there is currently no mechanism where good speech questions or bad speech.
Haugen is years removed from Facebook, but change is more imperative than ever.
HAUGEN: I do want to reinforce to people that you don’t have to be a whistleblower and actually change the world. Just waking up to the idea that there’s even small choices you can make working at a place like Facebook, where you can actually change in meaningful ways, where the company goes even within the limitations that you have.
In the coming months, there will be elections in France, Brazil and the United States among others -- countries that rely on the likes of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Haugen’s message rings truer than ever.