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In Facebook's fight to cope with crises
For more than a year, Facebook has faced an avalanche of scandals related to misinformation and data privacy, causing a global failure for its problem management. A new NYT survey based on interviews with more than 50 people reveals how the company fought its critics with delays, denials and frenzied lobbying in Washington.
Here are some of the main findings of the survey.
Facebook was aware of Russia's interference before the 2016 elections:
"In the spring of 2016, an expert on cyber war in Russia has identified a disturbing problem. He reached out to his boss [Alex Stamos, then the company’s security chief]. Stamos' team found that Russian hackers appeared to be looking for people linked to presidential campaigns in Facebook accounts, two employees said. "
Its leaders have risen in the face of Russia's investigations of interference:
"Mr. Stamos' briefing had provoked a humiliating interrogation of the members of the board of directors. [Sheryl] Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, and his billionaire leader. She seemed to consider admission as a betrayal. "You threw us on the bus!", She told Mr. Stamos, according to those present. "
The company has not prepared for the worst on its platform:
"We did not try to imagine what was behind corners," said Elliot Schrage, former vice president of Global Communications, Marketing and Public Policy for Facebook, in an interview. "
But pushed his message hard:
"Facebook has also expanded its work with [the P.R. firm] Definers. On a conservative news site called NTK Network, dozens of articles criticized Google and Apple for their unsavory business practices. A story called [Apple’s C.E.O. Tim] Cook is hypocritical for discrediting Facebook on privacy, noting that Apple also collects a lot of data from users. "
And Mark Zuckerberg was apoplectic about criticism:
After Mr. Cook publicly mocked Facebook, Mr. Zuckerberg was so furious that he then ordered his management team to use only Android phones, arguing that the operating system was much more users than Apple.
The bottom line:
"The accumulated evidence that Facebook's power could also be exploited to disrupt elections, spread viral propaganda and inspire murderous hate campaigns around the world, stumbled on Zuckerberg and Sandberg. Tempted by the growth, the two men ignored the warning signs and then sought to conceal them in public view. "
The history of the NYT has already sparked speculation about the company's reaction. Recode asks: "Who is the Facebook manager?" Facebook has already cut ties with Definers.
Facebook claimed that there were "a number of inaccuracies" in the report.
More news on Facebook: Morale is falling into society. Human rights groups want it to adopt a system of "due process" to remove the content. And Kevin Systrom, the former Managing Director of Instagram, says social media control will become more and more important.
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