Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen will meet with the tech giant’s oversight board in the coming weeks.
The invitation comes after Haugen, who served as product manager at Facebook from June 2019 until May, leaked documents to the Wall Street Journal regarding internal research on the negative effects of Instagram, which Facebook owns. The research showed negative effects on young women’s self-image and mental health, which Haugen testified about before Congress last week.
“In light of the serious claims made about Facebook by Ms. Haugen, we have extended an invitation for her to speak to the Board over the coming weeks, which she has accepted,” the board wrote in a blog post on Monday. “Board members appreciate the chance to discuss Ms. Haugen’s experiences and gather information that can help push for greater transparency and accountability from Facebook through our case decisions and recommendations.”
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Facebook has denied Haugen’s allegations that the company puts profits ahead of child safety.
“At the heart of these accusations is this idea that we prioritize profit over safety and well-being.” wrote Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a post. “That’s just not true. I don’t know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed.”
The Facebook Oversight Board noted that large companies’ decisions regarding content and structure could significantly affect billions of users worldwide. The board also said it believes that “transparency around rules is essential.”
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The board did not state a specific date, only that its members would meet with Haugen soon.
The Facebook Oversight Board was formed in 2018 as the tech giant’s attempt to keep itself accountable for its content moderation decisions. In May, the board upheld Facebook’s ban on former President Donald Trump’s account, stating the company could maintain the ban for at least two years and he that he may have limited access to the account.
