In the BBC interview, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged his company’s previous failings, admitting the platform had been unprepared for “state-sponsored interference” in the US elections of 2016, and claiming that lessons had been learned since.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has expressed confidence his platform will be able to handle misinformation and attempts of “meddling” during the oncoming US presidential election, reports the BBC.
Appearing in his first broadcast interview in five years, Zuckerberg said that since the elections in 2016 he and his company “have learnt a lot about how politics works online”.
According to the Facebook co-founder, his platform has been joining forces with governments around the world, gearing up for the possible “onslaught of meddling” in the period leading up to the ballot.
Zuckerberg touted his company’s efforts to utilize its global experience in becoming more adept at identifying these threats.
Zuckerberg insisted the company was prepared even better than some governments to ward off future possible attempts to sway political outcomes.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg makes the keynote speech at F8, the Facebook’s developer conference, Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in San Jose, Calif.
Earlier in the year, as the presidential race was heating up, Facebook faced criticism for refusing to introduce major changes to its advertising policies, that allowed disinformation to spread online, with both Democrats and Republicans slamming the website and urging it to take on greater responsibility for the content on its platform, and specifically, its micro-targeting options for politicians.
The CEO also explained how his company deals with coronavirus misinformation, such as claims that 5G infrastructure is allegedly aiding the spread of the virus, or false claims of cures.
The medical community had lambasted Trump for suggesting research into whether COVID-19 might be treated by injecting disinfectant.
Zuckerberg said that in instances of “harmful misinformation that puts people at imminent risk of physical harm”, the platform would remove the content, no matter how influential the user might be.
Netizens were swift to respond to the Facebook CEO’s announcement, with many unconvinced and dubious.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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