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Facebook Executives Ignored Warnings, Deflected Blame as Scandals Mounted, Report Says

posted by chromas on Thursday November 15 2018, @03:33AM   
from the it's-not-my-fault dept.

martyb writes:

Facebook Executives Ignored Warnings, Deflected Blame as Scandals Mounted, Report Says :

From Russian election meddling to a massive data privacy scandal, Facebook has faced a seemingly endless list of troubles. Now, a new report suggests the social network's leadership may be among its biggest challenges.

Over the past three years, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg ignored warnings, deflected blame and were distracted by other projects as the social network lurched from crisis to crisis, according to a more than 5,000-word report by The New York Times. The paper, which interviewed more than 50 people for the story, painted an unflattering portrait of two executives' handling of the series of scandals, some of which eventually promoted [Ed: prompted?] Congress to ask both of them to testify.

The piece focused on Facebook's handling of fake news posted by Russian trolls ahead of the 2016 presidential, the impact of which Zuckerberg initially dismissed as "crazy," and the company's efforts to deflect blame after data of 87 million users was harvested by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. The story also touched on in-fighting at the highest of levels of the company.

"Bent on growth, the pair ignored warning signs and then sought to conceal them from public view," The Times wrote. "At critical moments over the last three years, they were distracted by personal projects, and passed off security and policy decisions to subordinates, according to current and former executives."

Facebook told the paper it was committed to addressing the challenges.

Honesty: The absence of the intent to deceive.

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Original Submission

• Re:Really? Re:Really? (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 15 2018, @02:09PM (4 children)

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 15 2018, @02:09PM (#762156)

  > It's not like it's illegal for other countries to run political ads on facebook, or cnn, or whatever medium either. Nothing illegal happened.

  WRONG!! Time for you to take a civics class (again?)

  See this page for the actual rules: https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/who-can-and-cant-contribute/ [fec.gov]

  Who can't contribute

  Campaigns are prohibited from accepting contributions from certain types of organizations and individuals. These prohibited sources are:

          Corporations, including nonprofit corporations (although funds from a corporate separate segregated fund are permissible)
          Labor organizations (although funds from a separate segregated fund are permissible)
          Federal government contractors
          Foreign nationals
          Contributions in the name of another
  ...

  Partnerships or LLCs with foreign national members

  Similarly, because contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited, a partnership or LLC may not attribute any portion of a contribution to a partner who is a foreign national.
  ...

  Foreign nationals

  Campaigns may not solicit or accept contributions from foreign nationals. Federal law prohibits contributions, donations, expenditures and disbursements solicited, directed, received or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any election — federal, state or local. This prohibition includes contributions or donations made to political committees and building funds and to make electioneering communications. Furthermore, it is a violation of federal law to knowingly provide substantial assistance in the making, acceptance or receipt of contributions or donations in connection with federal and nonfederal elections to a political committee, or for the purchase or construction of an office building. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, acting as a conduit or intermediary for foreign national contributions and donations.

  A person acts knowingly for the purposes of this section when he or she has:

          Actual knowledge that the funds have come from a foreign national;
          Awareness of certain facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that there is a substantial probability that the money is from a foreign national; or
          Awareness of facts that should have prompted a reasonable inquiry into whether the source of funds is a foreign national.

  Pertinent facts that satisfy the “knowing” requirement include knowledge of:

          Use of a foreign passport or passport number;
          Use of a foreign address;
          A check or other written instrument drawn on an account or wire transfer from a foreign bank; or
          Contributor or donor living abroad.

  Definition of foreign national

  A foreign national is:

          An individual who is not a citizen of the United States, and not lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(20)); or
          A foreign principal, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 611(b). Section 611 defines a foreign principal as a group organized under the laws of a foreign country or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. The statute specifically mentions foreign governments, political parties, partnerships, associations and corporations.

  “Green card” exception

  An individual who is not a citizen of the United States is eligible to make a contribution if he or she has a “green card” indicating that he or she is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

  Parent

  Starting Score:	0		points
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  Total Score:		1

• Re:Really? Re:Really? (Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday November 15 2018, @04:15PM (3 children)

  by khallow (3766) on Thursday November 15 2018, @04:15PM (#762212) Journal

  The law refers to foreign nationals not foreign countries. It remains quite legal, via sovereign immunity, for countries to play these games.

  Parent

  • Re:Really? Re:Really? (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday November 15 2018, @07:22PM (2 children)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Thursday November 15 2018, @07:22PM (#762312) Journal

    The law refers to foreign nationals not foreign countries. It remains quite legal, via sovereign immunity, for countries to play these games.

    Nope, wrong again.

    Foreign nationals [fec.gov]

    Definition
    The following groups and individuals are considered "foreign nationals" and are subject to the prohibition:

    Foreign citizens (not including dual citizens of the United States);
    Immigrants who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
    Foreign governments;
    Foreign political parties;
    Foreign corporations;
    Foreign associations;
    Foreign partnerships; and
    Any other foreign principal, as defined at 22 U.S.C. § 611(b), which includes a foreign organization or “other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.”

    Parent

    • Re:Really? Re:Really? (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday November 16 2018, @04:27AM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) on Friday November 16 2018, @04:27AM (#762533) Journal

      Foreign governments;

      Does Russia agree to this alleged prohibition? I don't recall a treaty that would apply. The story indicates that there isn't actually such a treaty.

      Parent

      • Re:Really? (Score: 2) by Username on Saturday November 17 2018, @12:05PM

        by Username (4557) on Saturday November 17 2018, @12:05PM (#763056)

        Don't worry, it isn't even prohibited. An ad isn't a contribution. I can make an ad saying vote for Hilary, and it isn't a contribution to her campaign. Inkind contributions require acknowledgement and approval by the campaign. That's why when you see an ad on tv, they say, "I'm so-and-so and I approved this message."

        Parent