Dozens of human rights watchdogs have called on Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company's COO Sheryl Sandberg to step down amid recent allegations that the company tried to discredit its critics and mislead public over its activities, media reported on Tuesday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th December, 2018) Dozens of human rights watchdogs have called on Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company's COO Sheryl Sandberg to step down amid recent allegations that the company tried to discredit its critics and mislead public over its activities, media reported on Tuesday.Almost 30 groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, Muslim Advocates, Equality Labs, and MoveOn.org, sent a letter to the executives on Monday to demand resignation, according to the Guardian newspaper.
"In the face of clear evidence that Facebook was being used to broadcast viral propaganda and inspire deadly bigoted campaigns, the company's leadership consistently either looked the other way, or actively worked to lobby against meaningful regulation, shifted public opinion against its allies, and personally attacked its critics ... It is now time for significant changes in, not only your policies, but also your leadership structure," the letter read, as quoted by the newspaper.
In November, the social network admitted that it had hired the Definers PR company in an effort to improve Facebook's reputation. The PR firm had been asked, in particular, to do research on billionaire George Soros, who had spoken critically of Facebook. After Definers learned that Soros had been sponsoring some members of a new anti-Facebook organization, the firm made that information available to the press. In addition, Definers Public Affairs pitched negative stories on other tech giants, Google and Apple, highlighting their policy issues and downplaying Facebook's shortcomings.
Facebook's former head of public policy and communications, Elliot Schrage, assumed responsibility for hiring the Definers firm, while Zuckerberg said he was not aware of Facebook ties to the firm. The Facebook CEO also said that he stepping down "not a plan" for him.
