FB whistleblower confirms how social network benefitted from fake news, bots and misinformation

Sophie Zhang, former data scientist at Facebook, reveals how she fought to remove bot accounts and sophisticated networks that targeted users in different countries to manipulate elections, and spread misinformation.

September 19, 2020 by Newsclick

Sophie Zhang, former data scientist at Facebook, reveals how she fought to remove bot accounts and sophisticated networks that targeted users in different countries to manipulate elections, and spread misinformation. Zhang’s account reconfirms what the Wall Street Journal reported regarding Facebook India’s Policy Director, Ankhi Das. Das, who is Facebook India’s oldest employee is accused of “alleged deliberate and intentional inaction to contain certain hateful content in India.” The report further stated, quoting “current and former employees,” that Das allegedly told “staff members that punishing violations by politicians from Mr (Narendra) Modi’s party would damage the company’s business prospects in the country, Facebook’s biggest global market by number of users.”