The Time to Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable is Now!
After hearing Facebook’s recent decision to suspend Trump’s account for 2 years (thanks to a decision by their Oversight Board), I was appalled but not surprised. Politicians have been given privileges on their platform for years, often breaking their terms of service and community standards and meeting no consequence. On the flip side, everyday users have never been given such preferential treatment. Facebook is complicit in participating, most recently, in the actions that lead up to the January 6th insurrection, and in other instances where disinformation has led to harm in communities worldwide.
“When the looting starts, the shooting starts” was a quote used by the former President of the United States on Facebook, and continues to live on not only on the Internet but on merch being sold by his supporters. Facebook has repeatedly said that incitement to violence is not allowed on their platform, yet this and other posts that promote harm against specific groups of people have not been removed. Despite Trump’s two-year suspension, he will most likely be given the opportunity to return, with Facebook noting they will “determine if there is still a serious risk to public safety” if and when that day comes.
Facebook’s Vice President of Public Affairs, Nick Clegg, defended the temporary suspension, noting that all users get the same treatment when it comes to their community standards (which we can see is false) and that the platform should not have to vet everything posted for accuracy. Loopholes are constantly being created for political leaders on Facebook, and their paid political ads allowed to run throughout election cycles, all while causing harm to innocent citizens.
Tech leaders have been challenged by Congress to assess their role in the January 6th incident and have been unable to provide a definitive answer. Facebook hasn’t taken responsibility for its own actions, nor has its Oversight Board, which begs the question- who will take accountability and enforce impactful consequences? While Facebook is not the only platform that should be highlighted, they recently had the unique opportunity to set the standard in content moderation and fumbled. Even Twitter has permanently banned Trump, a move other social media entities should consider.
As an avid defender of the rights of the underprivileged (namely Black and Brown people), I am concerned that the lack of culpability and actionable safety plans will be detrimental as we step into the next voting cycle. Not only will disinformation continue; it will become more sophisticated and dangerous, with platforms like Facebook providing the microphone, podium, and the stage. As the popular saying goes, ‘a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.’ Even I have been a victim of people believing the lie over my verifiable truth, which has made me even more passionate about my work at SOVAW.
It’s time that we get real about the consequences of allowing harm to continue on social media platforms. Instead of being reactionary once harm has been caused, we need to learn from history and focus on prevention. We have to act through real consequences, not meaningless actions like the recent slap on the wrist Facebook doled out. Congress should begin to consider what types of regulations will be needed if platforms continue to refuse to protect those Americans that are targeted on their platforms. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t just throw our hands up and hope disinformation on social media disappears. It’s time citizens made a commitment to hold these platforms accountable and urge politicians to push legislation that prevents another January 6 from happening.
