In the midst of the crisis facing Facebook λόγω του ότι κυκλοφορούν ψεύτικες ειδήσεις στην πλατφόρμα του, είναι να έρθει στο φως ότι η εταιρεία έχει αναπτύξει μυστικά ένα tool to suppress messages that appear in users' feeds in specific geographic areas, according to New York Times.
The tool is reportedly developed with the blessing of CEO Mark Zuckerberg to help accept the social platform in China, where Facebook has been blocked by 2009.
So Facebook allegedly developed a tool for third-party use, such as local businesses and the government of China. These businesses (and the government) will have full control over what is shown in the feeds of social network users.
The NYT reports that the development of this feature began last year, and technicians within the company have created different teams led by Vaughan Smith, vice president of facebook in the corporate and business development division.
Internally, the tool is not exactly secret. Employees asked Zuckerberg to tell them about it at one of the company's regular Q&A sessions in July. The CEO of the largest social network then replied:
"Is better for Facebook to be a place that allows conversations, even if the conversation isn't complete.”
Although Facebook does not want to call himself a media business, it is very difficult for the world to accept it:
About eight out of ten Americans use Facebook, and about two-thirds of social network members are reading news from the platform.
The revelation of a secret censorship tool in Facebook's upcoming projects will surely lead to greater problems. It seems that Facebook executives with CEO Mark Zuckerberg are so blinded by their desire to conquer the world that they are willing to ignore basic moral principles.
