Facebook exec accuses Frances Haugen of STEALING thousands of internal documents and says the whistleblower is 'not an expert' on harmful effects of content algorithms
- Facebook vice president of content policy Monika Bickert spoke out Wednesday
- Slammed whistleblower Frances Haugen as a thief and 'not an expert'
- Haugen delivered damning testimony to Congress in hearing on Tuesday
- She warned that Facebook's algorithms boosted 'misinformation, hate speech'
- Facebook denies the allegations and has come out swinging about her claims
A Facebook executive has accused whistleblower Frances Haugen of stealing company documents and claimed she is 'not an expert' on the company's content algorithms.
Facebook Vice President of Content Policy Monika Bickert spoke out in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, slamming Haugen a day after she testified to Congress.
Bickert said that Haugen 'mischaracterized' the internal studies regarding the harmful impacts of content on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which she presented to to Congress.
'She didn't work on these issues. And her testifying about them and mischaracterizing some of the documents she stole is like if a journalist were to read another journalist's story, a colleague's story, and say oh, I'm an expert on this,' Bickert said. 'She's not an expert in these areas.'
Facebook Vice President of Content Policy Monika Bickert (left) spoke out on Wednesday, slamming Frances Haugen (right) a day after she testified to Congress
Among the documents Haugen leaked were some alleging that Facebook knew internal research showed Instagram could be harmful to some teen girls.
Bickert said that Facebook worked with subject matter experts such as teachers, counselors, and legal experts on community safety issues -- and said that Haugen had no such expertise.
'These are the sorts of experts that we bring to Facebook because they care so deeply about these issues and on the research that has been mischaracterized,' said Bickert.
During the Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, Haugen called for transparency about how Facebook entices users to keep scrolling, creating ample opportunity for advertisers to reach them.
'As long as Facebook is operating in the shadows, hiding its research from public scrutiny, it is unaccountable,' said Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook's civic misinformation team.
The 37-year-old said that Facebook's algorithms, centered around 'likes' and 'shares', rewarded 'dangerous online talk has led to actual violence that harms and even kills people.'
She left the nearly $1 trillion company with tens of thousands of confidential documents.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded in a lengthy public Facebook post, saying the accusations were at odds with Facebook's goals
'The company´s leadership knows how to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won´t make the necessary changes because they have put their astronomical profits before people. Congressional action is needed,' Haugen said.
Hours later, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded in a lengthy public Facebook post, saying the accusations were at odds with Facebook's goals.
'The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical,' he wrote.
'We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don't want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I don't know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed.'
Haugan's claims were devastating for Facebook's public image and prompted senators from both sides of the aisle to attack the firm and Zuckerberg, who has previously been summoned to the Capitol to testify on his firm's practices.
Facebook's director of policy communications, Lena Pietsch, responded to Haugen's testimony by pointing out she worked at the company for less than two years.
Pietsch added that Haugen 'had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives - and testified more than six times to not working on the subject matter in question.'
Frances Haugen on Tuesday appeared before Congress to discuss the workings of Facebook. She suggested a government entity be created to regulate Facebook during the scathing Senate hearing
But Facebook agreed on the need for more regulation.
'It's time to begin to create standard rules for the internet,' Pietsch said.
'It's been 25 years since the rules for the internet have been updated, and instead of expecting the industry to make societal decisions that belong to legislators, it is time for Congress to act.'
Zuckerberg said Haugen painted 'a false picture of the company'.
In a memo he sent to all staff, which he posted on Facebook, he wrote: 'I'm sure many of you have found the recent coverage hard to read because it just doesn't reflect the company we know.
'We care deeply about issues like safety, well-being and mental health. It's difficult to see coverage that misrepresents our work and our motives.
'At the most basic level, I think most of us just don't recognize the false picture of the company that is being painted.'
Zuckerberg said it was 'just not true' that the company prioritizes profit over all other concerns, and said it was not in their interests to promote damaging content.
He said the company was doing a lot of work on moderation, and on protecting children.
