Facebook fuels division, harms children, needs to be regulated: Whistleblower

WASHINGTON: A Facebook whistleblower told US lawmakers Tuesday that the social media giant fuels division, harms children and urgently needs to be regulated, drawing pledges Congress would take up long-delayed action.

The testimony by ex-employee Frances Haugen has fueled one of Facebook’s most serious crises yet, and prompted a denial from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who said in a post on his account that her claim the company prioritizes profit over safety was “just not true.”

Haugen testified on Capitol Hill after she leaked reams of internal research to authorities and The Wall Street Journal.

“I believe that Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy,” Haugen told a Senate panel.