Facebook Deletes Whistleblower’s Name⁠—But Fake News Reportedly Still A Problem

A Facebook spokesperson also said the decision could be revisited if the person’s name is “widely published in the media or used by public figures.”ASSOCIATED PRESS

Topline: Facebook said Friday it’s deleting mentions of the alleged whistleblower’s name for violating the social network’s “coordinating harm policy,” following a Thursday report from Harvard University that says the platform’s users can still easily share fake news.

The Associated Press reported that the name of the alleged whistleblower has been identified by conservative circles.

And Facebook, citing its “coordinating harm policy,” said it is deleting all mentions of that person’s name because anything that potentially outs a “witness, informant or activist” is prohibited.

Facebook Deletes Whistleblower’s Name⁠—But Fake News Reportedly Still A Problem
Facebook Deletes Whistleblower’s Name⁠—But Fake News Reportedly Still A Problem

Facebook spokesperson also said the decision could be revisited if the person’s name is “widely published in the media or used by public figures.”

Despite Facebook’s efforts to combat fake news (including a just-launched News Tab that controversially includes ultra-conservative Breitbart as a partner), Harvard’s Nieman Lab reported Thursday that it’s still easy for users to share stories the platform flagged for containing “False Information.” 

Meanwhile, CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave a nearly hour-long speech October 17 at Georgetown University that focused on giving people a voice, helping them come together and reducing harm through Facebook.

It’s unclear whether Facebook is removing mentions of the alleged whistleblower’s name from posts made by media organizations or individual users, and Facebook did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their policy enforcement and content moderation decisions.

Crucial quote: “All of this work is about enforcing our existing policies, not broadening our definition of what is dangerous. If we do this well, we should be able to stop a lot of harm while fighting back against putting additional restrictions on speech,” said Zuckerberg during his Georgetown speech.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/11/08/facebook-deletes-whistleblowers-namebut-fake-news-reportedly-still-a-problem/#45a7fcc57736