"I am here today because I believe that Facebook's products harm children, stoke division, and weaken our democracy," she said during her opening remarks."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.
"When we realized tobacco companies were hiding the harms it caused, the government took action," she said in her opening remarks."When we figured out cars were safer with seat belts, the government took action. And today, the government is taking action against companies that hid evidence on opioids. I implore you to do the same here."
The testimony also comes after a tumultuous day for the company. Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram went down for about six hours on Monday. Beyond the documents, there's also the power of Haugen's personal backstory. She started at Facebook in 2019 after previously working for other prominent tech companies including Google and Pinterest. She spoke with the Wall Street Journal about losing a friendship due to online misinformation and how it impacted the way she thinks about social media. She also told the publication her goal in speaking out isn't to bring down Facebook but to"save it.
He added:"The damage to self-interest and self-worth inflicted by Facebook today will haunt a generation." "Facebook's actions make clear that we cannot trust it to police itself," Blumenthal said in the statement Sunday."We must consider stronger oversight, effective protections for children, and tools for parents, among the needed reforms."
this the reason why they shutdown yesterday