Lawmakers probe Facebook’s alleged role in extremist content growth

A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, seeking insight regarding the company’s alleged role in knowingly allowing extremist content and groups growth on its platform.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) penned the correspondence.

The legislators maintain Facebook executives reportedly received multiple warnings the platform promotes division and extremism – including through several presentations from researchers and cross-functional teams within the company.

“This deadly attack on the Capitol laid bare the dire consequences of hyperpolarization and extremism in our current political discourse – much of which is occurring on your platform,” the lawmakers wrote. “With more than 3 billion monthly users across different services, Facebook must play a leading role in lessening the divide and lowering the temperature. To that end, the Committee is interested in understanding more about Facebook’s research on divisive content and user behavior, the reported presentations and recommendations made to Facebook executives and their actions in response, and the steps Facebook leadership has taken to reduce polarization on its platform.”

The lawmakers are seeking information regarding when and why Facebook first began conducting research into divisive content and behavior on its platform; whether in the course of any internal studies or analyses, Facebook uncovered any evidence or reached any findings that would confirm or suggest its platform, algorithms, or other tools exacerbate divisiveness or polarization; details on the Common Ground task force and Integrity Teams, as well as the review process that led to the two teams’ recommendations, and whether and how Facebook addressed or adopted such recommendations.