Top Democratic Operative Bill Burton Advising Facebook Whistleblower
(Worthy News) – The Facebook whistleblower who revealed herself in a 60 Minutes interview is getting strategic communications guidance from a top Democratic operative, according to a source with direct knowledge of the relationship, which was confirmed by another half-dozen sources with indirect knowledge of the partnership.
Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who has for the past 10 months fed internal documents to a top Wall Street Journal reporter, and who revealed her identity in a primetime broadcast on Sunday, is working with the political consultant and former Obama administration deputy press secretary Bill Burton and his consulting firm, Bryson Gillette. It is unclear when Haugen’s relationship with Burton and Bryson Gillette began, how big her communications team is, and whether it includes other political operatives.
But Burton is now deeply integrated with an emerging infrastructure on the left comprised of individuals and organizations, including the nonprofit Center for Humane Technology, seeking to press Facebook to more aggressively police political content. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen tells Senate the company ‘has not earned our blind trust’
Frances Haugen, who identified herself as the whistleblower on Sunday evening, spent the morning warning lawmakers that Facebook operates without oversight, telling them that even lawmakers do not have the information they would require to effectively regulate the tech giant.
Haugen, who said she is testifying today “at great personal risk,” told the panel:
“I am here today because I believe that Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division, and weaken our democracy. 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. They won’t solve this crisis without your help.”
By way of legislative assignment, Haugen told the panel that she would “strongly encourage” Congress to reform Section 230, specifically altering the liability standard of Big Tech platforms as it pertains to their algorithms, not exclusively their content. She added the idea of creating a federal oversight body to keep tabs on industry practices. [ Source: Just the News (Read More…) ]