Tech

Facebook Stays Mum On Accusations Of Conservative Bias As Trump Bears Down

REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Chris White Tech Reporter
Font Size:

Facebook has not addressed accusations of conservative bias despite promising in 2018 that it would produce an audit discussing the matter.

The company published an update on June 30 to a civil rights audit, but it has not provided any details about a parallel probe dealing with allegations of anti-conservative bias. Facebook’s apparent foot-dragging comes as President Donald Trump and other conservatives consider whether big tech needs more scrutiny.

A Facebook representative told Politico reporters in 2018 that the company would complete the audit and publish findings “early next year.” Facebook has not yet responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment

Various civil rights groups conducted the updated civil rights audit and it contained some eye-raising suggestions. (RELATED: Facebook Auditors Suggest Company Moderators Should Ding Borderline White Nationalist Content)

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: US President Donald Trump speaks to the media after signing a bill for border funding legislation while flanked by Vice President Mike Pence (L) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar (R) in the Oval Office at the White House on July 1, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media after signing a bill for border funding legislation while flanked by Vice President Mike Pence. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

For one, auditors suggested Facebook’s current ban of explicit white nationalism should be expanded to include content that supports the ideology even if the term white nationalism is not used. The company banned explicit expressions of white nationalism in March, marking a significant change in policy governing content on the platform.

Tech experts worry Facebook’s algorithms are incapable of distinguishing the subtle differences between so-called borderline white supremacist content and legitimate conservative posts. Facebook’s blunt instruments are not good at making such distinctions, experts say.

Trump and Republican lawmakers are fleshing out ways to reign in Facebook, Google and Twitter before they become too big to regulate. They’re worried Facebook is indiscriminately and unfairly deplatforming numerous conservative voices.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.