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Senate GOP Launches Inquiry Into Facebook's News Curation (gizmodo.com)

Posted by msmash on from the drawing-the-line dept.

Michael Nunez, reporting for Gizmodo: The US Senate Commerce Committee -- which has jurisdiction over media issues, consumer protection issues, and internet communication -- has sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg requesting answers to questions it has on its trending topics section. The letter comes after Gizmodo on Monday reported on allegations by one former news curator, who worked for Facebook as a contractor, that the curation team routinely suppressed or blacklisted topics of interest to conservatives. That report also included allegations from several former curators that they used an "injection tool" to add or bump stories onto the trending module. The letter asks that Facebook "arrange for your staff including employees responsible for trending topics to brief committee staff on this issue." The letter was signed by Chairman for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator John Thune (R) from South Dakota.

4 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. Dear The Senate by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dear Senator John Thune (R) from South Dakota, Chairman for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,

    Fuck off. We're a corporate not government entity and can do whatever we want with our property. Remember, you Republicans are are suppose to be way into that.

    Hugs and Kisses,
    Facebook

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  2. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because if something is being presented as being strictly based on popular interest, but is actually based on private interests, then that is misleading consumers. The other "news" organizations haven't been accused of advertising one methodology for presenting stories but actually using another.

    So Fox News is actually "Fair and Balanced"?

  3. Re:So what? by whoever57 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because if something is being presented as being strictly based on popular interest, but is actually based on private interests, then that is misleading consumers. The other "news" organizations haven't been accused of advertising one methodology for presenting stories but actually using another.

    Let me suggest that you are not being "Fair and balanced" here.

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  4. Re:So what? by Altus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Buying into the two party system is what ensures that we will stay in this mess forever.

    --

    "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson