In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News Tonight, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said during his testimony before the House, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the technology giant manipulates algorithms to censor conservatives.
Audio credit: Breitbart News
Partial transcript written by Robert Kraychik of Breitbart News:
…“Conservative sites have seen a massive decline in their Facebook traffic and reach, yet all of the establishment media have gotten a big boost from Mark Zuckerberg. With the way that Facebook is controlling so much of the traffic and the ad revenue — between Facebook and Google, it’s like 70 percent of online revenue for websites — [Mark Zuckerberg] is basically deciding content. So it seems like he has set himself up as the de facto publisher and editor of the world. Doesn’t this call for regulation?”
Blackburn replied, “At one point, [Zuckerberg] made a comment that Facebook is more like a government than a traditional company. So I took that quote from him as meaning that he sees himself as more than a normal company. So let’s start with that premise. I asked him if he was subjectively manipulating his algorithms in order to prioritize content or to censor free speech, and he wanted to push the question off: ‘Well, you know, we have to manipulate our algorithms for things like terrorism,’ and I cut him off, and I said, ‘I got to tell you. Diamond and Silk is not terrorism. That is not terrorism.’”
Blackburn added, “[Zuckerberg] made the point that I was wanting to make — that they are subjective in how they manipulate these algorithms. Then he referenced that they have 15 to 20 thousand content managers who look at content, and he admitted that Silicon Valley is a liberal place and people bring their bias to work with them even though he said he does not want them to exercise that bias in their jobs. We all know that they do.”
On Tuesday, Blackburn grilled Zuckerberg about Facebook censorship, comparing the platform to the “Truman Show.”
“Where does privacy rank as a corporate value for Facebook?” The Republican lawmaker asked Zuckerberg yesterday.
“Congresswoman, giving people control of their information and how they want to set their privacy is foundational to the whole service,” the silicon valley titan replied.
“It’s not just an add-on feature, something we have to comply with. Reality is if you have a photo, if you just think about this in your day-to-day life..”
“I can’t let you filibuster right now,” Blackburn interjected.
“There are no privacy documents that apply to you all and we’ve heard people say that, you know and you’ve said you’re considering maybe you need more regulation.”
“What we think is we need for you to look at new legislation, and you’re hearing there will be more bills brought out in the next few weeks, but we have had a bill, the Browser Act, and I’m certain that you’re familiar with this,” Blackburn added.
“It’s bipartisan.”
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