Facebook Investigation Finds ‘Serious Setbacks’ for Civil Rights

An audit¹ on Facebook's civil rights record has found "serious setbacks" in its efforts to deal with issues such as hate speech and misinformation.

The social media company ordered the investigation³ two years ago to measure Facebook's performance on major social issues. The findings were released on Wednesday.

The auditors⁴ reported that Facebook had taken "important steps forward in building a long-term civil rights accountability structure." But they said the steps do not go far enough "and should not be the end of Facebook's progress."

The report says Facebook's progress could be obscured by the "painful decisions" the company has made that "represent significant setbacks for civil rights."

The audit suggests that Facebook attempt to build a "civil rights infrastructure⁵" into every part of the company.

The auditors expressed concern at how the company chose to deal with some Facebook posts by politicians, including U.S. President Donald Trump⁶.

One of his messages was widely criticized for giving false information about the process of voting by mail. In another post – appearing on both Facebook and Twitter – Trump used the words: "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts."

The second message was posted in May during protests after the death of 46-year-old George Floyd. Some of the demonstrations⁷ turned violent.

Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer held his leg on Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes.

Twitter acted on both posts by Trump, saying they had violated its policies. In the first case, Twitter warned users that the claims about voting by mail had been judged to be false by investigators⁸. In the second, Twitter hid Trump's message, saying it violated its policy against "glorifying¹⁰ violence."

Facebook did not take action against either post. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg defended the company's decision, saying it represented a commitment to free speech.

Facebook's position was that the Trump messages "did not violate its community standards," the report said. But the auditors said they strongly disagreed, claiming the messages "clearly violated Facebook's policies."

The report said Facebook's unwillingness¹¹ to act seemed "to reflect a statement of values that protecting free expression is more important than other stated company values."

Facebook's Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, described the audit as a "really important process for our company." She said in a statement the auditors had "looked at a wide range of civil rights issues, including our policies against hate."

"We have made real progress over the years, but this work is never finished," Sandberg said. "There are no quick fixes to these issues - nor should there be... What has become increasingly clear is that we have a long way to go."

The findings were announced at a time when hundreds of advertisers have joined a boycott¹² of Facebook to pressure the company to do more to remove hate speech.

On Tuesday, organizers of the boycott held a video conference with Zuckerberg and Sandberg. After the meeting, activists¹³ said they saw "no commitment to action" from the company.

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

setback² – n. a problem that makes something happen later or more slowly than it should

accountability – n. the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility

obscure – v. prevent something from being seen or heard

infrastructure – n. the basic systems a country uses in order to operate effectively

assume – v. to take a position of control

loot – v. to steal something from a place

glorify⁹ – v. to describe or represent something in a way that makes it seem better or more important

commitment – n. a promise or firm decision to do something

standard- n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable

reflect – v. to think about in a serious and careful way

1 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

2 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 auditors   

n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生

参考例句：

• The company has been in litigation with its previous auditors for a full year. 那家公司与前任审计员已打了整整一年的官司。
• a meeting to discuss the annual accounts and the auditors' report thereon 讨论年度报表及其审计报告的会议

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 glorify   

vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化

参考例句：

• Politicians have complained that the media glorify drugs.政治家们抱怨媒体美化毒品。
• We are all committed to serving the Lord and glorifying His name in the best way we know.我们全心全意敬奉上帝，竭尽所能颂扬他的美名。

10 glorifying   

赞美( glorify的现在分词 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣

参考例句：

• I had no intention of either glorifying or belittling Christianity, merely the desire to understand it. 我并没有赞扬基督教或蔑视它的立意，我所想的只是了解它。
• You are glorifying a rather mediocre building. 你正在美化一栋普普通通的建筑。

11 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。

12 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》