Facebook was “too slow” to notice and then stop the ways Russia used the global media platform to influence the 2016 presidential election, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“We were too slow to spot and respond to Russian interference, and we’re working hard to get better. Our sophistication in handling these threats is growing and improving quickly,” Zuckerberg said in his prepared remarks before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which were posted Monday.
Zuckerberg will testify before the House panel Wednesday morning, following testimony before a joint Senate committee hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Zuckerberg’s House testimony said he took responsibility for many of the problems the company has faced over the last few months.
“[I]t’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well. That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy,” he said.
“We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake,” Zuckerberg said. “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.”
Zuckerberg and Facebook have been on the defensive following revelations that from up to 87 million users was obtained without permission by Cambridge Analytica, a British-based data firm that worked with President Trump’s campaign in 2016, and one of its contractors. Many have also complained about how Russians were able to promote divisive election messages on Facebook.
Zuckerberg was seen heading into Sen. Bill Nelson’s office Monday, wearing a suit. The Florida Senator is the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee.
“It’s not enough to just connect people, we have to make sure those connections are positive,” Zuckerberg said in his prepared remarks. “It’s not enough to just give people a voice, we have to make sure people aren’t using it to hurt people or spread misinformation. It’s not enough to give people control of their information, we have to make sure developers they’ve given it to are protecting it too.”
On Monday, Facebook said it is launching an “independent election research commission” that it says will help fight misinformation, fake news and election manipulations.
