Status: 07.10.2021 10:23 a.m.
European politicians see themselves confirmed by the allegations of the whistleblower Haugen against Facebook: Online networks should be better controlled, they demand. Tech companies invest a lot of money in lobbying to prevent this.
After the whistleblower Frances Haugen raised serious allegations against her former employer Facebook, politicians in Europe are calling for the network to be regulated more closely. It is now “really urgent” to implement the proposed legislation and “not to weaken it,” said EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
Haugen had accused Facebook before the US Congress of putting profits before the safety and well-being of the people: “The company management knows how Facebook and Instagram can be made safer. But they are not making the necessary changes because they are making their astronomical profits put over the people. ” That has consequences for people, democracy and society.
The group is said to have switched off filters against false information after the US election campaign in order to attract more users. Commissioner Breton said that shouldn’t happen in Europe.
The ex-Facebook manager Haugen burdened the social network in an interview.
Image: AP
Expensive lobbying
Two legislative proposals are currently before the European Parliament and the European Council: the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. They are supposed to regulate the internet, for example with personalized advertising and illegal content.
However, the tech companies invest a lot of money in lobbying the EU to prevent or weaken such laws. According to LobbyControl and Corporate Europe Observatory, with more than 97 million euros annually and more than 140 lobbyists, they are now the most strongly represented industry in Brussels – ahead of the pharmaceutical industry and the financial sector.
Breton stressed that one should not give in to lobbying and weaken the proposed legislation. After a conversation with Haugen, he understood “your perspective, especially on issues of transparency, data and algorithms”.
Lambrecht: Self-regulation is not enough
Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also wants to regulate social networks more closely in the future. “The latest revelations about Facebook show how urgently we need strong and effective regulation of social networks in Europe,” said Lambrecht. “In a united Europe, it affects us all when social networks with their algorithms intensify hatred and agitation and promote undesirable political and social developments.”
In case of doubt, profit interests would be given priority over social responsibility. Therefore, appeals to a sense of responsibility and self-regulation were insufficient.
Grütters: Limit market power
Berlin’s Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters (CDU) wants to limit the market power of large platforms. “The failure of several Facebook services last Monday, but also the statements made by the former Facebook employee Frances Haugen once again showed how dependent many people around the world are on these services – in terms of technology, content and communication,” said Grütters. That is why they have to continue working flat out on the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg had rejected the allegations against his company. What Haugen described was “simply not true” and “deeply illogical”. He doesn’t know of any tech company that makes products that make people angry or depressed.