[ April 27, 2024 ]
Long overdue. Never has so much power been in the hands of so few - useful idiots, no less.
Facebook rejects co-founder call for breakup, senator urges U.S. antitrust probe
By: David Shepardson, Reuters, May 10, 2019:
Story continues below advertisementWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facebook Inc quickly rejected a call from co-founder Chris Hughes on Thursday to split the world’s largest social media company in three, while lawmakers urged the U.S. Justice Department to launch an antitrust investigation.
Facebook has been under scrutiny from regulators around the world over data sharing practices as well as hate speech and misinformation on its networks. Some U.S. lawmakers have pushed for action to break up big tech companies as well as federal privacy regulation.
“We are a nation with a tradition of reining in monopolies, no matter how well intentioned the leaders of these companies may be. Mark’s power is unprecedented and un-American,” Hughes, a former college roommate of Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, wrote in a lengthy New York Times opinion piece.
Facebook’s social network has more than 2 billion users. It also owns WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, each used by more than 1 billion people. Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.
Facebook rejected Hughes’ call for WhatsApp and Instagram to be made into separate companies, and said the focus should instead be on regulating the internet. Zuckerberg will be in Paris on Friday to discuss internet regulation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Related CoverageExplainer: What would it take for U.S. regulators to break up Facebook?
“Facebook accepts that with success comes accountability. But you don’t enforce accountability by calling for the break up of a successful American company,” Facebook spokesman Nick Clegg said in a statement.
“Accountability of tech companies can only be achieved through the painstaking introduction of new rules for the internet. That is exactly what Mark Zuckerberg has called for.”
Late on Thursday, Senator Mike Crapo, the Republican who chairs the banking committee and Sherrod Brown, the top Democrat, asked Facebook to answer questions about a potential cryptocurrency-based payments system using its social network and its data collection.
The letter also asked questions about consumer privacy protections and if it had information about users’ creditworthiness.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, told CNBC he thinks Facebook should be broken up and that the Justice Department’s antitrust division needs to begin an investigation.
Antitrust law makes such a proposal tough to execute because the government would have to take the company to court and win. It is rare to break up a company but not unheard of, with Standard Oil and AT&T being the two biggest examples.
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITYHughes co-founded Facebook in 2004 at Harvard with Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz. He left Facebook in 2007, and has said in a LinkedIn post he made half a billion dollars for his three years of work.
“It’s been 15 years since I co-founded Facebook at Harvard, and I haven’t worked at the company in a decade. But I feel a sense of anger and responsibility,” Hughes said.
Facebook lost several executives after a bruising series of privacy and disinformation scandals since 2016. The founders of Instagram and WhatsApp have left, as has the executive who took over WhatsApp last year.
Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, who had been at the company for 13 years and was one of Zuckerberg’s closest lieutenants, stepped down in March around the same time Facebook announced a pivot toward more private messaging.
He later cited “artistic differences” with Zuckerberg as his reason for leaving, without elaborating.
Critics say the company’s pivot to privacy, which will introduce more encrypted communications, will restrict Facebook’s ability to police propaganda, hate speech and other abusive behavior. Cox focused on improving tools to catch banned content in recent years.
Despite its scandals, the company’s core business has proven resilient. Facebook has blown past earnings estimates in the past two quarters and its stock price barely budged in response to Hughes’ opinion piece.
Hughes suggested Zuckerberg should be held responsible for privacy and other lapses at the company, echoing a call earlier this month by Democratic U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to hold the CEO individually liable for “repeated violations” of privacy.
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25 Comments4 years agoMay Hashem forgive me for supporting such tactics, but this is war. These lib/commies won’t be satisfied until our heroine’s head leaves her body. Laura Loomer’s head might be thrown in as a bonus for the lib/commie fools.
4 years agops. the Libertarian wandervogel wannabes who attack Robert Spencer; etc., for such suggestions have adopted the viciously antisemitic SJP as their mascot to fight for…free speech values. These right wing hippies are pretty loathsome.
4 years agoAbout time the government shuts that libturd crap down!!!!
4 years agoFunny. Cry baby Pamela Geller, do as I say not as I do. I just got censored on this site this week. First post deleted, posted again, deleted again. Hey Pamela you’re the owner and it’s your right to delete any comment I post on your property for any reason. I respect your private property rights. You can even ban me from your website for life.
I won’t run to the government to force you to behave as I demand with your private property, your hard work, your sweat, your effort, your money, your creation. I’ll find some other way to have my voice heard and have my ideas heard. See how that works Pamela? I hope you won’t delete this post because you don’t like what it says, but you might, just like you did earlier this week.
4 years agoLove the enthusiasm … but anti-trust will be costly politically and it will produce no results that will help America …
Remember this just means that a publicly traded corporation becomes multiple publicly traded corporations …
run by the SAME TYPE of PEOPLE.
4 years agoReply to Dan KnightYes, but a breakup would bring different groups of greedy, selfish, power-hungry and hate-filled leftists. They will go at each other’s throats just like FB goes after whatever it can steal-rob-destroy among new tech start-ups. Divide and conquer.
4 years agoReply to Dan KnightVery good point, Dan. It seems any anti-trust action against FB, would merely move the ‘shells’around the board, take billions in taxpayer dollars to do so and might even make FB stronger in the end.
4 years agoReply to santashandleranti-trust is a bad idea. It’s not just a matter of the law. (And the law is worthless – the Left just has to find one of their ‘judges’ – and they get any interpretation or ruling they want.)
We refuse to even investigate these companies and find out who funded them and why.
Breaking up these companies would be a lot like
breaking into a lab specializing in bio weapons …
stealing the diseases …
and setting them free…
If we don’t like the way they work at the hands of the {bleeps} who run them now … how will we like it when they’re unleashed?
4 years agoReply to Dan KnightExcellent viewpoint, Dan; you are a man who thinks outside of the box. Take care.
4 years agoOMG! Sherrod Brown actually did something that is NOT taking MY MONEY & Giving it to n’th generation WELFARE recipients & ILLEGAL ALIENS???
4 years agoWhen was the last time you read or heard a positive comment regarding “Fakebook”? Better question, when was the first?
4 years agoGoogle (Alphabet of the Left) and 3-sided Left-Facebook (Socialism favored platform?), Administrative State’s NSA supercomputing facility, secret linked? Giant Tech Entities, monolithically stand awaiting — while rehearse-practicing? (Intentional or no.) Perfect-poised instrumentalities, ready data repositories — for transformed Soviet Democrat Party’s long sought dream of State-TYRANNY: Proto-“Police State” (forget the Deep State) now emergent, awakening nightmare.
Insightful Mr. Mark Levin suggests: as “Bolshevik” members assemble, weaponized Commissar-led Committees deployed, from House of Representatives hard-Left-seized!
“Where?” — Read current news, unplugged from Shadow-State network Propaganda, Democrat-Media complex fed.
4 years agoReply to Art~SpectrumThen you realize that the Soviet Union was merely the seedbed of Communism which was meant to outlive its usefulness after the real targets (primarily the U.S., Britain, France, and other strong Western nations) were sufficiently manured and planted for Communism to eventually take over from within.
Communism, however, has never been the deepest root of the anti-humanity tree. To personally discover this, a person must become grounded in Real History and in Real Science (modern “science” is truly the anti-science that has spread its filthy dark cloud over all True Objectivity, Logic, and Reason, succumbing instead to subjectivity-addiction where all is theories, views, and opinions, and those who can still know anything for certain must be shut down). Real History is must still become grounded again in the Original Objective Text called the Holy Bible. And this Text must be related to AS IS, untainted by religion, theology, philosophy, or ideology. The Core of the Bible, The Ten Commandments, transcends all that humans call religion and morality. Only these Commandments were spoken directly to human beings (His Nation Israel) by that Divine Being called the Word, who has always been with God, whose Family Name is also God. This Word was eventually made flesh to dwell among us and to die in our place for all the Commandments that we have been breaking, so that we can appear clean enough to God the Father that we could receive that Divine Power called the Holy Spirit, so that our transgressions could be more than just forgiven. They, and their power, can be totally removed from our behavior, from our minds, from our lives.
This is all spelled out in great detail in the Holy Bible ITSELF, which is the most-available Text of all time. We have no excuse.
4 years agoReply to Joseph O MorrowUnderstand your first paragraph: the Soviet Union, which Gangster Boss Putin mourns, is dead, but ideology-planted dragon-seeds, offspring children still breeds.
Reminder of your Reply, cannot quite interpret. I agree that true history is recorded in the Bible (in fine and broad brush strokes) — increasingly verified through Holy Land archeology. As well as supported by ancient historians, mostly.
Also concur in difference between illuminated Science and “Dark Science” — too much shadow science, spun from conjectures of bias-preference, and their hypothetical scenarios.
“And this Text must be related to AS IS, untainted by religion, theology, philosophy, or ideology.” AS IS? — Does not compute.
Some seemingly sound statements line, then read interspersed expressions of this kind: “The Core of the Bible, The Ten Commandments, transcends all that humans call religion and morality.”
What? — The Bible is the foundation of highest Morality, and embodiment of truest Religion (Old and New Testaments). The Highest Morality is expressed in the Ten Commandments. (Maybe I misread you.)
Refrain from entering theological debate with you — not qualified. (Nor is this the place.) But you seem to mix truth with error, if only from faulty reasoning. (I’m no Solomon.)
Claim assertions are “spelled out in great detail in the Holy Bible”. Some are — some are not.
You should not misrepresent what the Book actually says. (Nor should I!)
4 years agoReply to Art~SpectrumThe Divine Words of God were not written to be interpreted by mere men. God has clearly defined His own word/idiom usages in the context of His own Text. Many meanings of words and phrases continue to be emphasized and clarified as the words of the prophecies continue to come to pass.
The words in the Bible were given to us to be understood, not changed in meaning to suit ourselves. Theologians are notorious for attempting to bring God down to the human level (which God already did by making the Word flesh to dwell among us for awhile) instead of referring us to what God Himself tells us concerning His own desire: to bring all of us up to His own Divine Level. Wouldn’t we, therefore, have to become God ourselves in the end? Absolutely. That is the whole point of passages like John 3 and I Corinthians 15 (1 Corinthians if I want to be presidential).
I keep hearing and reading from many persons: “Jesus fulfilled the law; Jesus fulfilled the law.” No He did not! He did what none of us could do: He paid the penalty exacted against us for breaking His Father’s Ten Commandments. He NEVER does FOR us what we CAN do ourselves: DO His own Ten Commandments, diligently and cheerfully. We are to DO what pleases the Father in heaven, not just call Him “Lord, Lord”. There has always been something for us to do, just as it was in the very beginning when God commanded Adam to name all the animals. Adam was also instructed what NOT to do. He was not to eat from that one of two trees in the middle of the Garden.
To this day we humans have remained so obsessed with the tree we were not supposed to eat from that we all but ignore that other tree: The Tree of Life. Adam and Eve were NOT created already immortal. God’s Gift was, and it is still, Eternal Life, something none of us is born with. We must avoid the breaking of The Ten Commandments, which God calls sin, so that our wages shall not be death.
If even these words “do not compute”, God’s own answer follows:
(Psalms 111:10) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that DO his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
Stop blaming the misunderstood words of other people for your own lack of comprehension-capacity.
The two most effective Commandments to keep are these:
(Leviticus 26:1-2) “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
“Ye shall keep MY sabbaths, and reverence MY sanctuary: I am the LORD.”
Both Old and New Testaments bear witness to only one Sabbath: that which is to be observed on the seventh day of the week after working diligently, as commanded, on the first six days.
Live with it.
4 years agoReply to Joseph O MorrowHave to wonder, how much of what you preach, do you actually LIVE? ( Lamplight is very quiet … )
Answer, between you and your Maker.
(Saintly perfection, no claim have I, being very human.)
Again, you make valid points, in text woven threads. But pattern of your meaning, somewhat escapes me, entire mesh read.
Because you assert things most unpopular, would be curious as to where you learned them, being very controversial. (Q. more rhetorical.)
As a great 20th Century Educator taught, the Bible interprets itself. But it also shows, we need men — led by the the Holy Spirit — to guide us (“priests”, ministers or “rabbis”). But like those gathered in Jewish Synagogue, 2,000 years ago, student learners assembled, we should be like the “noble” Bereans:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind [ under teacher’s guiding instruction, Paul in this case ], and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. — Acts 17:11 (KJV)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. — I-Thes. 5:21 (KJV).
Not a few lines, written in isolation, I could agree with. But how you weave them together, bit of a puzzle to me. (No master of English expression, obviously.) Frankly, not sure WHERE you are coming from. Anyway, again, this is not the place for such lengthy discussion.
I do try and show courtesy with response, or at least acknowledgement of sort.
Don’t know why you initially Replied to me in such manner. Perhaps its just my “own lack of comprehension-capacity”, that leaves me perplexed.
Good Day.
4 years agoReply to Art~SpectrumI post words. If you decide to classify those words as “sermon” or “preach” to excuse yourself from taking them seriously, that is YOUR choice, not mine.
“Saintly perfection”: Your words, not mine.
“Because you assert things that are most unpopular, I would be curious as to where you learned them”
I state, not assert, what I personally experience as true by “living what I preach”, to use your terms.
I learned to read very early, long before beginning to attend school. Because both of my parents were educators I had many books available to read, including math, astronomy, anatomy, history, Shakespeare, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, as well as various editions and versions of the Bible. I didn’t yet know about other books that were written ABOUT the Bible, so I was “stuck” reading the Great Text itself.
As I was reading parts of the Bible, the matter of DOING, and not just reading, came sharply to my attention. It was not rocket science to begin to understand how to honor both of my parents, not to murder anyone, not to cause harm to others by misrepresenting them, and not to allow my desires to obtain other people’s stuff to get out of control.
My personal experiences began to match things I had read in the Bible. I saw specific answers to specific prayers come to pass. Later on, when I began to succumb to seductive ideas that conflicted with the Bible, I never strayed so far as to forget the lessons of my earlier years.
Several times I was eased back into reality. Several other times I was jolted back. Either way I had something concrete to return to.
I avoid assuming where another person “is coming from”. I’m not afraid to tell persons what they already know, whether experientially or only intellectually. It takes more than just one brief encounter to realize who already knows what.
I don’t bind myself to today’s “socially-acceptable” responses. But I still attempt to be courteous according to the most enduring standards of all.
Thanks for your reply.
Enjoy!
4 years agoReply to Joseph O MorrowIn light of your Reply, must respond:
Apparently, to extent, I misread you. If any offense, my apology.
I can only respect and admire your self learning, in wide-ranging-reading. (I can somewhat relate to that.) Places you in honorable company: known historical luminaries, who read much, thus expanded their minds greatly.
It seems, from what you say, in reading the Scriptures, you were a “blank slate”: free from traditional preconceptions (oft erroneous), and costumer notions (which rarely match up with the “Great Text”). — No better way to be intellectually enlightened: mind opened to the Highest Education of all time.
Regarding sharp focus, on practical application of the Ten C.s, you lens that well. Clear understood.
“My personal experiences began to match things I had read in the Bible. I saw specific answers to specific prayers come to pass.”
Reading that paragraph, verse came to mind, where Adonai-Tzva’ot (CJB version) states in Malachi, regarding point of law being violated, transgression apparently not fully realized by the people: “…prove me know herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,…” — Mal 3:10 (KJV).
….
I did appreciate — and respect — your response. Comprehended.Best Regards, Mr. Morrow.
4 years agoReply to Art~SpectrumThank you for your gracious reply.
I likewise appreciate your replies along with your other posts to this article.
Best regards to you, Sir.
4 years agoI hope they do it and Zuckerberg deserves it. He would have loved Hillary.
4 years agoI hope they do it and Zuckerberg deserves it. He would have loved Hillary.
