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Facebook's Zuckerberg grilled over Libra currency plan Facebook's Zuckerberg grilled over ad fact-checking policy
(about 1 hour later)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has tried to reassure sceptical US lawmakers over the safety of the social network's proposed digital currency Libra. US lawmakers have sharply criticised Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg about the firm's policy not to fact check political ads.
At a fractious hearing in Washington, members of Congress attacked plans for the payment system, warning it could be abused by criminals and terrorists. In a hearing in Washington, the social network chief was accused of letting political disinformation spread ahead of the 2020 US presidential election.
Mr Zuckerberg was also challenged over claims that he had lied to US regulators in the past. He also was unable to confirm if hate speech from candidates running for office would be taken off the platform.
But he promised Libra would not be launched without government approval. But he did say it was not his job to police what politicians said.
He said Facebook would leave the Libra Association if the consortium tried to launch a crypto-currency without the permission of US regulators. The tech boss was appearing before the House Financial Services Committee to defend plans for his embattled digital currency Libra.
What are the concerns about Libra? But he found himself under attack over host of other issues, including failing to stop child exploitation on the social network and the Cambridge Analytic data scandal.
Mr Zuckerberg's appearance before the House Committee on Financial Services comes after a tough month for the Libra project. On the social network's policy on political ads, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked: "I just want to know how far I can push this... could I run ads targeting Republicans in primaries saying that they voted for the Green New Deal?"
Eight of the 28 founding members of the Libra Association - set up to independently govern the currency - have pulled out. They included Mastercard, Visa, eBay and PayPal. The Green New Deal is a Democrat policy fiercely opposed by most Republicans.
Meanwhile, regulators around the world continue to express concern about the project. The G7 group of nations has vowed to block it unless Facebook can prove it is safe and secure. Mr Zuckerberg said the platform would take down posts from anyone, including politicians, that called for violence or tried to suppress voter participation.
There are concerns the currency could be used for money laundering, disrupt the global financial system, or give Facebook too much control over user data. As for untruths, however, he said it was not Facebook's role to prevent "people in an election from seeing that you had lied".
How did Zuckerberg respond? In another example, Democrat Sean Casten asked if Facebook would remove hate speech in political ads. He noted a former member of the American Nazi Party had run for Congress and won a Republican primary in 2018.
He told the hearing that he understood the reservations about Libra but was determined to persevere. Mr Zuckerberg said: "Congressman, I think that depends on a bunch of specifics that I'm not familiar with this case and can't answer to."
"I get that I'm not the ideal messenger for this right now. We've faced a lot of issues over the past few years and I'm sure there are a lot of people who wish it were anyone but Facebook that was helping to propose this," he said. "Well, that's rather shocking," said Mr Casten. "I don't think that's a hard question."
"But there is a reason we care about this and that's because Facebook is about putting power into people's hands." The chief executive was also asked whether Facebook would remove ads that falsely claimed immigrants who participated in the US census would have their details shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He said Libra was a prime example of "American innovation" and could help more than a billion adults without a bank account worldwide. Mr Zuckerberg said Facebook was in the process of revising its related policies, adding that he could not yet say what the "specifics" would be.
Facebook would not control the Libra Association and would instead occupy one seat on a governing board of five, he added. What did he say about Libra?
Mr Zuckerberg also tried to reassure sceptical US lawmakers about the safety of his proposed digital currency Libra, but was given short shrift by most.
The project has faced a series of challenges recently, with key partner organisations having pulled out and mounting regulatory opposition.
Members of Congress raised concerns about whether currency could be used for money laundering, disrupt the global financial system, or give Facebook too much control over data.
Mr Zuckerberg said he was determined to persevere with the plan, arguing it could help more than a billion adults without a bank account worldwide.
But he added: "I get that I'm not the ideal messenger for this right now. We've faced a lot of issues over the past few years and I'm sure there are a lot of people who wish it were anyone but Facebook that was helping to propose this."
Grilling or roasting?Grilling or roasting?
As is often the case when Mark Zuckerberg is in Congress, the agenda deviates from the subject at hand. As is often the case when Mark Zuckerberg is in Congress, the agenda deviated from the subject at hand.
One exchange stood out, and it wasn't about Libra. Ann Wagner, a Republican congresswoman for Missouri, said that Facebook's plan to introduce end-to-end encryption on its Messenger app would make it harder for authorities to discover instances of images of child sexual abuse being shared. One exchange stood out. Ann Wagner, a Republican congresswoman for Missouri, said that Facebook's plan to introduce end-to-end encryption on its Messenger app would make it harder for authorities to discover instances of images of child sexual abuse being shared.
That matters: 12 million such images were shared on Facebook last year. It appears to be by far the biggest platform for that kind of illegal material sharing.That matters: 12 million such images were shared on Facebook last year. It appears to be by far the biggest platform for that kind of illegal material sharing.
While other services, like WhatsApp and Apple's iMessage, are encrypted, experts in child safety say the main Facebook platform is of greater concern when it comes to paedophiles searching for, finding, and grooming children - all on the same platform.While other services, like WhatsApp and Apple's iMessage, are encrypted, experts in child safety say the main Facebook platform is of greater concern when it comes to paedophiles searching for, finding, and grooming children - all on the same platform.
"What are you doing to shut this down?" Ms Wagner demanded to know."What are you doing to shut this down?" Ms Wagner demanded to know.
Mr Zuckerberg cited tools developed by Facebook to detect the material, but eventually admitted: "It will be harder to find some of this behaviour."Mr Zuckerberg cited tools developed by Facebook to detect the material, but eventually admitted: "It will be harder to find some of this behaviour."
He'll need to find better answers - or face a scandal that may well dwarf all the others.He'll need to find better answers - or face a scandal that may well dwarf all the others.
What did other panel members say?What did other panel members say?
Mr Zuckerberg's testimony was largely met with scepticism as members of Congress focused on the social network's past failings in areas such as data protection. Many lawmakers questioned why they should trust Mr Zuckerberg's assurances over Libra, given the social network's past failings in other areas.
Maxine Waters, the Democratic chairwoman of the panel, pointed out that the social network was the subject of an antitrust investigation. She said it had "allowed" Russia to interfere with the US election in 2016.Maxine Waters, the Democratic chairwoman of the panel, pointed out that the social network was the subject of an antitrust investigation. She said it had "allowed" Russia to interfere with the US election in 2016.
It had "huge" reach, with an audience of 2.7 billion users, she said, adding: "Perhaps you feel you are above the law?" "It would be beneficial for all if Facebook concentrates on addressing its many existing deficiencies and failures before proceeding any further on the Libra project," she said.
She said it would be "beneficial for all if Facebook concentrates on addressing its many existing deficiencies and failures before proceeding any further on the Libra project". Mr Zuckerberg's personal integrity also came in for attack, with Democrat Madeleine Dean saying: "We earn credibility drop by drop, but we pour it away in buckets."
Mr Mr Zuckerberg was also challenged over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the spread of hate speech on Facebook, and the firm's policy not to fact check political ads.
His personal integrity also came in for scrutiny, with Republican Madeleine Dean saying: "We earn credibility drop by drop, but we pour it away in buckets."
Some however defended the Facebook boss's track record as an entrepreneur.Some however defended the Facebook boss's track record as an entrepreneur.
"I have my own qualms about Facebook and Libra and the shortcomings of Big Tech," said Representative Patrick McHenry, the top Republican on the panel. "But if history has taught us anything, it's better to be on the side of American innovation." "I have my own qualms about Facebook and Libra and the shortcomings of big tech," said Patrick McHenry, the top Republican on the panel.
"But if history has taught us anything, it's better to be on the side of American innovation."