Whistleblowers have much power and are a corrective factor in business and politics. Most jurisdictions have implemented whistleblowers to motivate and protect them. One of the well-known whistleblowers is Frances Haugen. In 2021, a former Facebook data scientist exposed the dark side of social media algorithms and underscored the urgent need for transparency and accountability within the industry. In her book “The Power Of One,” she explains herself and social media.
Frances Haugen moved a lot with her information and helped to recognize the sensitivity regarding the use of user data. Facebook had to answer many questions and implement changes in its policy regarding handling user data. Haugen’s recently published book, “The Power of One: How I Found the Strength to Tell the Truth and Why I Blew the Whistle on Facebook,” emphasizes the significance of addressing the lack of accountability in the influential yet opaque social media sector.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, declined to comment on Haugen’s memoir, CBS News reports. Haugen criticized Facebook for obstructing researchers from studying its operations and even taking legal action against those who exposed the truth.
“They have sued researchers who caught them red-handed. Opaque companies can cut corners at the expense of the public without facing any consequences,” she expressed.
With concerned parents struggling to monitor their children’s social media usage, Haugen called for action through elected representatives. She highlighted pending legislation like the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, which aims to protect children’s online privacy, but stressed that more needs to be done.
“Our privacy laws for kids online haven’t been updated since the 90s. Just think about how much the internet has changed since then,” she remarked. “As a parent, you can do a lot. But these companies have hundreds of employees working to make their apps more addictive. It’s an impossible battle.“
