Why a civil war broke out on Facebook

Last Friday afternoon, Facebook made one of the most controversial decisions it has ever made in terms of content management. Its founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, chose to leave the now-famous Donald Trump tweet that Twitter had hidden behind a warning that it "praises violence." He sparked an unprecedented riot within his company - and the largest virtual workers' strike in its 16-year history.

"When the looting begins, so does the pistol," the US president wrote, reproducing a statement made in 1967 by a Miami police chief, calling for a violent crackdown on his city's black community. As Zuckerberg himself explained in a post on Friday, Facebook decided - instead of Twitter - to leave the post for two reasons: first, because "people need to know if the government is planning to use force." second, because Trump had (supposedly) reconsidered some way in a later post, saying that the original post "was a warning of the possibility that looting could lead to violence."

During a subsequent meeting with Facebook employees, Zuckerberg told them that, according to the Verge website, he had found it particularly difficult to come to a decision, that he was thinking about it for hours and was "very torturous" for him. He had also clarified his annoyance about the post in question: "My first reaction was just disgust. I don't think we want our leaders to behave like that right now. It is a moment that requires unity and composure and empathy for the people who are fighting. " He and his staff, however, had concluded that Trump's comments did not violate community terms - although Zuckerberg noted that they would reconsider their policy in the near future. According to Bloomberg, on the same day, Friday, Trump called Zuckerberg to discuss the situation and the latter expressed his disappointment, telling the US president that he was putting Facebook in a difficult position. For some employees of the company, that was enough. But not for others.

At least 15 Facebook executives took to Twitter over the weekend to express their disapproval - breaking the rule that wants social network employees to never publicly criticize their employer. "I'm a Facebook employee who completely disagrees with Mark's decision not to do anything about Trump's recent posts, which are clearly inciting violence," wrote Jason Stirman. "Offering a platform for inciting violence and spreading misinformation is unacceptable," Andrew Crow said. Several tweets recalled the famous saying of Desmond Tutu: "If you remain neutral in cases of injustice, then you have chosen the side of the tyrant." For the real reason, about 400 Facebook employees showed up on Monday to protest their telework.

Zuckerberg was sharply criticized for his choice of all three prominent American activists in favor of the political rights with which the founder of Facebook met the day before yesterday. According to the New York Times, social media workers are compiling a list of requests - some senior executives have even threatened to resign if Mark Zuckerberg, who has assured them in various ways that he "listens" to their grievances, does not change course.

Source: tanea.gr