Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumU.S. presidential contender Kamala Harris favors look at breaking up Facebook
Source: Reuters
U.S. presidential contender Kamala Harris favors look at breaking up Facebook
Susan Cornwell
3 MIN READ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said on Sunday that U.S. officials should consider breaking up Facebook Inc, the worlds largest social media company, saying it is a utility that has gone unregulated.
Harris, a U.S. senator and one of more than 20 Democrats seeking the partys nomination for the 2020 presidential election, said Facebook has prioritized growth over consumers interests, especially on privacy.
I think we have to seriously take a look at that (breaking up Facebook), yes, Harris said in an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper. She said very few people can get by in their communities, business or commerce without somehow using Facebook. So we have to recognize it for what it is. It is essentially a utility that has gone unregulated.
Facebook has been under scrutiny from regulators around the world over data sharing practices as well as hate speech and misinformation on its networks.
Some other U.S. lawmakers, including Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, have pushed for action to break up big tech companies as well as federal privacy regulation.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-harris/u-s-presidential-contender-kamala-harris-favors-look-at-breaking-up-facebook-idUSKCN1SI0K5
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(130,126 posts)I don't think Facebook is a 'utility' as usually defined.
'Public utilities (just "utilities" in British English) are typically defined as companies that supply what are considered basic (essential) services to homes and businesses, such as electricity, gas, waste disposal, water and sewer connections, where competition is very limited.'
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
MineralMan
(146,190 posts)a big campaign issue, I think. As many people will react negatively to losing their Facebook connections as will want to disable Facebook. Voters across the entire political spectrum can be on either side on this issue, if it is an issue at all.
Really, I don't see it as a very strong issue to start with. It also has the possibility of backfiring with voters. I wouldn't take a position on it as an policy statement, really. It's likely to be a wash.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
crazytown
(7,277 posts)Basically, it a proposal to spin off Instagram and whatsapp at a time when Facebook, contrary to earlier assurances, intends to merge the services, starting with messaging.
Is hardly a big vote winner. Im not sure why Kamala is going there. When Warren was talking about it, I suspect most people thoughts, thats Liz being Liz.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)No one needs it to live or even to communicate. I personally think Facebook is kind of dumb. I have an account that I look at once every few month. Just dont see wat the big deal is.I dont really care wat most of my friends went or vacation or wat they had for dinner or how cute their kids ar or the sunset they saw on their marvelous hike. Its just plain boring and so much posturing. I just never got it. Wat am I missing?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,190 posts)are on there. I scroll down a few times and then leave. I also have a page for the business I'm involved with. I'm in charge of that page, so I post something there a couple of times a week. But, I write it offline and paste it in, so it takes just seconds. We have a page on Facebook because, well, you have to have a social media presence. We also have a Twitter presence, which I also operate. I post a couple of tweets a day, and our number of followers keeps going up. It generates more interest than the Facebook page so I pay more attention to that. But, still, I go there to post something and look at anything that has happened there, and that's it.
But, I'm unusual. A lot of people use social media almost constantly, so some sort of presence is necessary, really.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,172 posts)and just the more connected world we leave in.
how do deal with fake shit, hateful bigoted content etc.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
msongs
(67,193 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden