About 10 days ago, the identity of the Facebook whistleblower who leaked a series of internal company documents to the media was revealed . These documents prove that Instagram can be harmful to teenagers and that this is something that Facebook knows. Frances Haugen , the Facebook whistleblower, is set to testify in Europe soon .
See also: Facebook Whistleblower: Accuses the company of profiteering
Following her appearance in Congress, Haugen is also set to give evidence about Facebook to lawmakers in the British Parliament, according to a new announcement.
He will appear before a parliamentary committee on October 25, and it will essentially be the first time he has testified against the company in Europe.
Whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former product manager at Facebook, told a Senate committee last week that the company's leadership prioritizes "profits over people" and called on lawmakers to intervene.
Her testimony comes after internal Facebook research was leaked to the Wall Street Journal, which found that Instagram was harmful to teenagers, especially girls. The Wall Street Journal brought the data to light, although several Facebook representatives tried to defend the company.
Over the weekend, Facebook's chief spokesperson, Nick Clegg, said the company would add new features to steer teens away from harmful content, while encouraging users who are too busy on Instagram to take a "break."
“There needs to be greater transparency into the decisions companies like Facebook make when they put user safety aside to gain engagement,” said Damian Collins, a British MP and chairman of the joint committee on the government’s Internet Safety Bill.
See also: Mark Zuckerberg Defends Facebook After Whistleblower Allegations
The British government is now introducing new legislation that will require digital giants to ensure they monitor and take action against illegal or harmful content online, or face huge fines.
Meanwhile, EU lawmakers have also summoned Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen to appear at a hearing on November 8, although it is not yet clear whether she has accepted their request.
“ Whistleblowers like Frances Haugen show the urgent need to establish democratic rules for the online world in the interest of users ,” Anna Cavazzini , chair of the European Parliament’s consumer protection committee, said in a statement
See also: Another whistleblower wants to testify against Facebook
“Her revelations showed the conflict between the platform's business model and the interests of users.“.
The European Union has its own plans for managing Big Tech. Europe is working on two major laws, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, designed to eliminate toxic content and increase competition.
Source: CNBC
