Mark Zuckerberg asks governments to regulate tech firms

[Bubbajim]

Why it matters: The last couple of years have not been kind to Facebook’s reputation. Last year it was voted the least trusted tech company, which is unsurprising given the rate of new reports of shady practices by the company. Now, in a Washington Post piece that’s part PR offensive and part cry for help, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is calling on governments worldwide to increase their efforts to regulate tech companies.

Illicit data use by Cambridge Analytica, marketing apps targeting teens, accusations of electoral interference and a purported failure to stop the spread of videos from the recent New Zealand terror attack – any one of these would have been bad enough alone. But for Facebook, these stories have come to light so thick and fast the company hasn’t known how to handle them.

The latest move to combat Facebook’s growing image problem by founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been an op-ed in The Washington Post, making a plea for governmental regulation.

Zuckerberg states, “I believe we need a more active role for governments and regulators. By updating the rules for the Internet, we can preserve what’s best about it, […] while also protecting society from broader harms.” He lists four key areas where he feels greater oversight is needed: harmful content, election integrity, privacy, and data portability.

At first glance, it marks an interesting shift in Facebook’s stance towards regulation. But a closer reading reveals that this op-ed is a carefully constructed PR piece that seems more like passing-the-buck than a genuine call for regulatory alignment.

For example, one area Zuckerberg highlights is ‘harmful content’, and after saying that he agrees that tech companies have “too much power over speech,” Zuckerberg lists things the company is already doing, such as “creating an independent body” and “working with governments on ensuring the effectiveness of content review systems.” The subtext of the article is effectively saying “we’re doing things to fix this – we promise.”

Leaving aside how genuine the call for regulation is, it comes at an interesting time. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren made headlines in March with calls to break up major tech companies. The U.K. government is also looking into increased regulation of social media.

It will be very interesting to see how governments from around the world react to Zuckerberg’s call to arms, especially as many have called for greater regulation without actually putting forward concrete proposals of what that would entail.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/79440-mark-zuckerberg-asks-governments-regulate-tech-firms.html

 

[Vulcanproject]

So much for small government.

 

[gigantor21]

So much for small government.

I think we're well past the point of simply letting Facebook do whatever they want.

 

[psycros]

Zuckerberg is offering to block content the government doesn't like in exchange for their maintaining a hands-off approach to spying and tracking. That's exactly what Warren and the other usual suspects were hoping to accomplish. Its all a coded exchange but everyone knows what's going on. The left controls 90% of all American media but they don't have solid control over social media yet. Theirs a concerted effort underway to make 2019 the year of the Great Liberal Internet Takeover, so named because you'll notice the Republicans have barely paid lip service to regulation OR privacy concerns. They stand to lose big by allowing the left to have free reign on this issue...disfranchising their political opponents is always job #1 at the DNC. If I had the cash I'd be heavily investing in a Deep Web social network right now.

 

[Axle Grease]

If I write something that ridicules Islam due to it being totalitarian in nature, is that to be regarded as "harmful content"?

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Yes, lets have the government regulate our social media. We also need them to regulate our entertainment and every other aspect of our lives, for we are just the helpless peasants, and the noble ruling class liberals know what we TRULY need in our lives.

If zuckerbird wants government regulation, that means he benefits somehow. Now, how would the owner of a massive data aggregation site benefit? Perhaps access to more data perhaps, protection from said government? Whatever it is, it isnt good for us consumers. Reminder, this lizard man lies to everyone's faces about what his company does on a daily basis as Facebook is caught up in one controversy after another being invasive on collecting data on its users and non users and how much it truly knows about your personal life.

Meanwhile, those of us that dont wear diapers and dont need the nanny government to make decisions for us can see this for what it is, a desperate grab for control by the same liberals still BTFO'd by the fact that trump won 2016 without the help of dem big nasty russians. They want regulation because they cant control individuals poking holes in their "ORANGE MAN BAD CONSERVATIVES ARE NAZIS" narrative, and they HATE being called out on their ballooning hypocrisy.

 

[loki1944]

Um, no. Keep that sh!t in NK and PRC.

 

[Puiu]

Many governments are looking to better regulate such things already. Mark is just going public sooner rather than later they so that FB looks like the "good guy".

 

[Uncle Al]

Zuck giving ANYONE advice on ANY SUBJECT should be heavily regulated!

 

[Nobina]

I agree that Facebook shouldn't be allowed to regulate it self, they are like corrupted government. Question is how will the actual government do it, I doubt they will have peoples interests at heart.

 

[MaikuTech]

Technically any government around the world will not listen to the general public.
Mark's idea will fly out the window and he won't be heard.

 

[emmzo]

You cannot miss the irony in this report. Zuckerberg asking for his company to be regulated by governments...well, unless he means some vague regulations he can bypass and stop losing money on fines with the endless cases of THEFT, I don`t buy it.

 

[treetops]

Banning Facebook\Social Media would be the best thing for the internet.

 

[wiyosaya]

Yet another attempt by Ducky to shirk responsibility for his own company's failings.

Poor widdle cry baby! My heart goes out to him! /sarcasm

Creeps like Ducky know nothing of honor and completely lack the ability to do the right thing.

 

[Bullwinkle M]

This is a Legally Binding License regarding access to my computers and the content therein by any Corporation such as (but not limited to) Microsoft, Facebook, Google etc.

No Individuals, Groups, Company's, Corporation's, Affiliations, machines or software may access or use any content from my computers for any purpose by imposing a one sided Licensing Agreement of your own

By doing so, you are in direct violation of this Licensing Agreement and you hereby agree to hold me harmless and grant me the right to stop you by ANY means

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You also agree to give me ALL License, Title, Copyrights, Trademarks, Proprietary Rights including but not limited to Patent Rights of everything you or your Company owns if you are found to violate this agreement as determined by me and me alone

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If you disagree with this License, you are directed to immediately stop accessing any personal data on my home computers by you or your Company and to stop employing a one sided Licensing Agreement such as this one

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This agreement is now in-force, automatic and binding.

Should you choose to opt out, you must do so in writing directly to me at my email address which you should already have

My (Bullwinkle J Moose's) Personal Liability arising from the use of this License shall not exceed and is limited to 1 U.S. Dollar for all party's combined and I reserve the right to change this License at any time

 

[JamesSWD]

Granted, FB and other social media, and including places like Google & Amazon, use and abuse our data...and something needs to be done about this.

But the reality is that they all own the politicians and govt wants that data...so nothing useful will be done. We might get some shadow puppet games to placate the masses and make it look like they're serious, but that's it.

In addition, does anyone really want our dullard politicians to be making regulations, when they don't even comprehend how the Internet, web, email, and other services work? Seriously...listen to some of the hearings Congress has about the Internet...and you won't be able to facepalm yourself hard enough at the level of ignorance they have about it all.

 

[wiyosaya]

In addition, does anyone really want our dullard politicians to be making regulations, when they don't even comprehend how the Internet, web, email, and other services work? Seriously...listen to some of the hearings Congress has about the Internet...and you won't be able to facepalm yourself hard enough at the level of ignorance they have about it all.

Maybe Ducky is counting on this. After all, he testified in front of the dolt politicians so he should know they are clueless and incapable of implementing anything meaningful when it comes to tech and the internet.

If that is the case, then the question would be what hidden motives does Ducky have?

 

[JamesSWD]

Maybe Ducky is counting on this. After all, he testified in front of the dolt politicians so he should know they are clueless and incapable of implementing anything meaningful when it comes to tech and the internet.

If that is the case, then the question would be what hidden motives does Ducky have?

Power, control, money, etc. - The usual.

 

[MaikuTech]

You forgot trying to dodge a bullet like our ***** president does.