Facebook founder begs for forgiveness over fake news
FACEBOOK founder Mark Zuckerberg has used the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur to apologise for the way his social media platform was used to divide people.
The site is under intense pressure to clamp down on “fake news” and Mr Zuckerberg has admitted he underestimated the problem of misinformation during last year’s US election campaign.
In a Facebook message, the tech entrepreneur said the holiest day of the Jewish year – the day of atonement after the new year – was a time to reflect.
“For those I hurt this year, I ask forgiveness and I will try to be better,” he wrote. “For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and to do better.”
Mr Zuckerberg has been on the defensive about claims that Facebook helped spread fake news and that Russian agents bought advertisements in an attempt to sway the election outcome. Last week he said he “regretted” an earlier statement that it was a “pretty I will work crazy idea” to suggest that fake news on Facebook had influenced the election.
The site has already passed to Congress about 3,000 adverts bought by Russian interests and has been asked – along with Google and Twitter – to appear before two congressional investigations looking at Moscow’s meddling.