A whistleblower spurred new calls for oversight of Facebook. Now what happens? – NPR

NPR’s Audie Cornish talks with Nate Persily, director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center, about his proposal to allow for more independent oversight of Facebook. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Tomorrow marks a week since Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified to Congress, accusing the company of incentivizing the spread of hate and misinformation and failing to share research on its platform’s negative impact on kids’ mental health. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) FRANCES HAUGEN: Until the incentives change, Facebook will not change. Left alone, Facebook will continue to make choices that go against the common good, our common good. CORNISH: In the days since that testimony, the years-long drumbeat for Congress to take action and impose stricter regulations on social media and tech giants has grown louder. One plan includes forcing these companies to allow independent researchers to analyze its data from the platforms on which, quote, “almost all of human experience is now taking place.” Those are the words of Nathaniel Persily, a professor of law at Stanford Law School and director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center. Welcome back to the program. NATHANIEL PERSILY: Thanks for having me. CORNISH: So you have actually tried your hand at drafting legislation that would…
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