Facebook Falls Short Of Civil Rights Demands, And Its Own Audit

Advertisers are boycotting the company’s platforms, and rights groups want Facebook to remove hate speech and disinformation.

By Shelly BrisbinJuly 9, 2020 11:30 am, ,

On Wednesday, independent auditors hired by Facebook reported that the company has not done enough to address disinformation and hate speech on its platforms. The audit came one day after a high-profile meeting between Facebook leaders and civil rights groups who pressed a series of demands as part of the Stop Hate for Profit campaign – an advertising boycott effort that’s been backed by major brands, including Ford, Verizon and Starbucks. Dozens of advertisers have pulled their ads from Facebook, at least temporarily.

Tech expert Omar Gallaga told Texas Standard host David Brown on Thursday that representatives from Color of Change, the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP and other groups met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and senior Facebook leaders to discuss 10 demands, including one that the company hire an executive with a civil rights background. Rights groups said afterwards they were disappointed by the meeting.

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– What civil rights groups have demanded from Facebook

– Why advertisers have embraced the boycott campaign

– Whether other social media companies are also facing backlash

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