Advocacy Groups Launch Initiative to ‘Stop’ Facebook

As Facebook weathers anongoing PR shitstormcomposed of various interlocking crisis , a number of public advocacy groups have launched a website that enquire Americans to aid put the screws to the technical school heavyweight .

Aptly calledHowToStopFacebook . Org , the site accuses FB ’s algorithms of “ hurting our kid , undermining republic in the U.S. and globally , and exacerbate discrimination . ” Supported by tech - focused group likeFight for the Future , theElectronic Frontier Foundation , and tons of others , the situation reference many of the blab points recently made by Frances Haugen , a former FB employee move around whistle-blower who recently appeared on 60 Minutes and then in front of Congress to discuss the ways in which her former employer is hurt Americans .

So what do the protagonism group suggest we do ? The groups argue that Congress should draw a “ genuine data privacy law”—one that make it “ illegal for party like Facebook and YouTube to collect the monumental amount of data they demand to power their algorithms . ” The website cater a signup piece of paper that gives visitor the chance to show their support for the opening move .

Photo: Drew Angerer (Getty Images)

On its face , a Union data privacy natural law is a good idea — and something masses have beentalking about for awhile . However , such an project is n’t on the dot a simple process and certainly not without risks . For one matter , the primary cheerleader for a federal privacy law over the retiring few yearshave been giant tech companies — the very entities such a law would be design to regulate . Why ? Privacy advocatesargue thatsuch a law would give businesses the opportunity to do what they do best : sic armies of lobbyist on Washington to co - opt regulation and turn them in their favor .

But Congress has basicallythrown up its handsand admitted it is way too unequal to and corrupt to even try something like basic information trade protection for the public . Thus , privacy legislating has pretty much been concede to the state , where many legislatures have tried — andoften fail — to cobblestone together their own rule . The passing ofthe California Consumer Privacy Act , or CCPA , in 2018 , seemed to be a sign of hope , and has provided a roadmap for other state , likeColoradoandVirginia , to do the same . A state - led approach represent a much more complicated regulative landscape for company like Facebook to navigate , and leave alone the door undetermined for potentially more radical lawmaking — something good for consumer but bad for the tech industry .

Of course , a federal privacy practice of law , were it given real regulatory tooth , could assist ensure that fellowship like Facebook are the right way restrained and cut off from their more noxious impulsion . On the other paw , there ’s no guaranty that such a law of nature would n’t arrive out the other side of our very imperfect legislative process as defanged and ineffectual regulation — a law that in the end legitimates bad corporate doings rather than reprimand it .

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