Members of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors introduced a measure condemning the naming of the General Hospital after Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.1 The resolution has already passed through the committee, but the full Board will be voting on it as soon as Tuesday!
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while essential workers and healthcare professionals risked their lives to keep communities safe, Facebook’s algorithm spread more public health disinformation than actual information from trusted sources.2 Facebook knows sensational or emotional content ends up getting far better engagement, holds users’ attention, and therefore, makes the platform and its leadership more money. It was not until massive outcry that Facebook did anything to protect users from dangerous pandemic disinformation.
Gordan Mar, the sponsor of the measure, said it best: “San Francisco’s only public hospital should not bear the name of a person responsible for endangering public health in our country and around the world — and yet it does.” Sign the petition to show you agree.
Beyond disinformation around COVID-19, Facebook has made billions of dollars on hate, lies, and racism running rampant on the platform Zuckerberg founded. Despite business boycotts.3, employee outcry4, and countless campaigns against Facebook, Zuckerberg has failed to take meaningful action to fix any of Facebook’s problems. Instead of addressing serious and legitimate criticisms Facebook decides to either say nothing or spend time crafting their best PR statements that refute the concerns of nearly everyone who interacts with Facebook.5
From pushing right-wing propaganda to intimidating smaller companies in order to acquire them, Facebook is always doing something to put them under scrutiny.6 Public institutions should be named after people who make a positive impact on the world and uphold human rights, dignity, and social and racial justice. From his actions as Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has not lived up to these values.
Sources:
1. “San Francisco moves toward condemning the naming of the Zuckerberg hospital,” Vox, Dec. 3, 2020.
2. “Facebook's Algorithm: A Major Threat to Public Health,” AVAAZ, Aug. 19, 2020.
3. “Facebook Ad Boycott Campaign ‘Stop Hate For Profit’ Gathers Momentum And Scale: Inside The Movement For Change,” Forbes, June 24, 2020.
4. “Facebook Employees Stage Virtual Walkout to Protest Trump Posts,” New York Times, June 1, 2020.
5. “Facebook calls Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma' sensationalist,” Business Insider, Oct. 5, 2020.
6. “"Instagram can hurt us": Mark Zuckerberg emails outline plan to neutralize competitors,” The Verge, July 29, 2020.
