Senators Demand Answers from Facebook on Misinformation Research Cutoff

Facebook Faces Congressional Inquiry Over Research Account Closures

Last week’s decision by Facebook to suspend accounts linked to a project investigating the spread of misinformation has ignited significant criticism. This action has now drawn the attention of members of Congress.

Several legislators voiced their disapproval immediately, accusing Facebook of actively hindering attempts to increase the transparency of its algorithms and ad targeting practices. Researchers contend that analyzing these concealed systems is vital for understanding the dissemination of political misinformation.

Focus on the Ad Observer Tool

The company’s actions specifically targeted two researchers affiliated with NYU’s Cybersecurity for Democracy project. These researchers were working on Ad Observer, a browser extension that enables the study of how Facebook delivers advertisements to users based on their individual interests and demographic profiles.

A recent letter, detailed below, sees a group of Democratic senators seeking further clarification from Facebook. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Mark Warner (D-VA) addressed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, requesting a comprehensive explanation for the account terminations.

They also inquired about the specific violations of the platform’s terms of service and any potential compromises to user privacy that may have occurred. The letter was dispatched on Friday.

“While we acknowledge Facebook’s responsibility to protect user privacy, it is equally important that the company permits credible academic researchers and journalists, such as those involved with the Ad Observatory project, to conduct independent investigations,” the senators stated. “This research is crucial for identifying ways to combat misinformation, disinformation, and other detrimental activities proliferating on its platforms.”

Past Concerns and FTC Involvement

Legislators have consistently called for greater transparency regarding political advertising and misinformation, particularly following the discovery of election disinformation being circulated on Facebook in 2016.

These concerns were amplified by the platform’s prominent role in the spread of misleading information leading up to the events at the U.S. Capitol. During this time, supporters of then-President Trump attempted to invalidate the election results.

In a published blog post, Facebook justified its decision by citing compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines. However, the FTC refuted this claim last week, sending a letter to Zuckerberg asserting that its guidance does not prevent the encouragement of research serving the public interest.

Samuel Levine, the FTC’s acting director for the Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized the agency’s support for initiatives that promote transparency in business practices, especially those related to surveillance-based advertising.

“Indeed, the FTC supports efforts to shed light on opaque business practices, especially around surveillance-based advertising,” Levine wrote.