US Senator Michael F Bennet’s open letter to the
Facebook CEO on the need to reign in hate speech on the social media platform
Dear Mr Zuckerberg:
Recently, you wrote in the Financial Times that “Facebook is not waiting for regulation” and is “continuing to make progress” on issues ranging from disinformation in
elections to harmful content on your platforms. Despite the new policies and investments you describe, I am deeply concerned that Facebook’s actions to date fall far short of what its unprecedented global influence requires. Today, Facebook has 2.9 billion users across its platforms, including Messenger,
WhatsApp and Instagram. In dozens of countries, Facebook has unparalleled power to shape democratic norms and debate, and as a result, elections. I am concerned that Facebook, as an
American company, has not taken sufficient steps to prevent its platforms from undermining fundamental democratic values around the world.