Last week, social media executives appeared before Congress, answering for their role in the U.S. Capitol riots which occurred in January, and more widely in spreading extremism and disinformation on their platforms.
Both issues have become increasingly difficult to ignore. On top of the January 6th insurrection, the rise of malicious conspiracies and rampant misinformation surrounding COVID-19 have all provided the impetus for Facebook to change. In a press release, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce stated that “Industry self-regulation has failed.” Despite growing regulatory scrutiny around the world, heavy-handed government regulation doesn’t have to be the answer.
A bipartisan appetite for holding tech companies like Facebook accountable for extremist content published on their platforms has taken over. Accountability is no longer optional. Facebook’s Oversight Board could offer a partial solution to a complex problem, but only if the social media giant stops clipping its wings.
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