The Facebook Papers are a huge collection of internal documents from the social media giant. Here’s what the interviews with several former and current employees and documents reveal.
What are the Facebook Papers?
The project is a collaboration between 17 news agencies in the US. Several journalists worked in sync to access and make sense of the internal documents obtained by Frances Haugen. Haugen, the whistleblower was a former product manager for Facebook. However, they are the redacted versions of what Haugen disclosed ver the past several months. She alleges that the platform is prioritizing profit over safety. Additionally, it also claims that Facebook is hiding its internal research from the investors and public.
“AP regularly teams up with other news organizations to bring important journalism to the world. The Facebook Papers project is in keeping with that mission. In all collaborations, AP maintains its editorial independence,” said Julie Pace. Pace is the executive director and the senior vice president for the Associated Press.
People or Profit: What’s more important to Facebook?
The papers and complaints cover a huge range of topics. Including but not limited to how the platform is harmful to young adults and its role in fueling violence. The papers are now under review by the members of Congress. Haugen’s legal team is also redacting them. This is to ensure that the names of users and low-level employees are removed.
Moreover, Zuckerberg holds Facebook in an ironclad fist. The CEO not only holds the majority of the voting shares but, also manages the board of directors. Hence, there are hardly any people in Facebook’s top ranks who will question him. “Ultimately, it rests with Mark and whatever his prerogative is? and it has always been to grow, to increase his power and his reach,” stated Jennifer Grygiel. Grygiel is a communications professor from Syracuse University.