ZUCKERBERG FACES UP TO HIS ELECTION COMMENTS
MARK Zuckerberg has conceded he was wrong to deny the role Facebook played in spreading “fake news” during the US presidential election following an attack by Donald Trump.
Mr Zuckerberg posted a 393-word comment on his Facebook page overnight Wednesday in response to a tweet sent earlier by the US president that labelled the social media company “antiTrump”.
“After the election, I made a comment that I thought the idea misinformation on Facebook changed the outcome of the election was a crazy idea,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote.
“Calling that crazy was dismissive and I regret it.”
Even though Facebook is now the world’s biggest publisher, Mr Zuckerberg has been at pains to deny the online behemoth is a media company that should accept the same responsibilities as a publisher.
Mr Trump didn’t specify what prompted his claim against Facebook, although the social network is on the back foot in Washington.
It faces calls for tighter regulations to police political advertising and has agreed to turn over to Congress copies of 3000 political advertisements paid for using Russian accounts during the US election.
Facebook has already admitted Russian propagandists spent at least $100,000 on election adverts — enough to reach tens of millions of voters.
“Trump says Facebook is against him,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote.
“Liberals say we helped Trump. Both sides are upset about ideas and content they don’t like. That’s what running a platform for all ideas looks like.”