US Lawmakers Urge Meta to Delay Shutdown of Transparency Tool
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US Lawmakers Urge Meta To Delay Shutting Down Transparency Tool
US lawmakers voiced "concern" Wednesday over Meta's decision to shut down CrowdTangle -- a digital tool considered vital in monitoring falsehoods -- in a major election year, urging the tech giant to delay the move by six months. The Palo Alto company has said CrowdTangle will be unavailable after August 14 -- less than three months before the US election. Meta plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality, and which many news organizations will not have access to. "We write with concern about Meta's announced plan to end access" to the "powerful transparency tool," a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote in a letter to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. "We urge Meta to, at a minimum, postpone this plan for six months and provide further information about its plans and commitment to ensure sufficient transparency for independent research going forward." The letter seen by AFP was signed by 17 lawmakers -- on both sides of the political aisle -- including senators Chris Coons (Democrat) and Bill Cassidy (Republican) as well as representatives Lori Trahan (Democrat) and Neal Dunn (Republican). CrowdTangle has been a game-changer for years, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a technology still under development. It's a tool that some in the tech industry, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, say is currently not an effective replacement, especially in elections likely to see a proliferation of falsehoods enabled by artificial intelligence. "We are deeply concerned that Meta Content Library has significant limitations that make it an inadequate replacement for CrowdTangle at the current time," the lawmakers wrote. "There are also questions of how many organizations will have access to and the practical ability to use Meta Content Library if CrowdTangle access is ended." There was no immediate comment from Meta. Organizations that debunk misinformation as part of Meta's third-party fact-checking program, including AFP, will have access to the Content Library. But the tech giant, which has been moving away from news across its platforms, will not make the new tool accessible to for-profit media. Journalists have used CrowdTangle in the past to investigate public health crises as well as human rights abuses and natural disasters. Killing off the tool is seen as a major blow in a year when dozens of countries are holding elections -- a period when bad actors typically spread false narratives more than ever. Earlier this year, global nonprofit Mozilla Foundation voiced alarm in an open letter to Meta that was signed by dozens of tech watchdogs and researchers. Decommissioning CrowdTangle would be a "direct threat" to the integrity of elections, the letter warned, calling on Meta to retain CrowdTangle at least until January 2025.
[2]
US lawmakers urge Meta to delay shutting down transparency tool
Washington (AFP) - US lawmakers voiced "concern" Wednesday over Meta's decision to shut down CrowdTangle -- a digital tool considered vital in monitoring falsehoods -- in a major election year, urging the tech giant to delay the move by six months. The Palo Alto company has said CrowdTangle will be unavailable after August 14 -- less than three months before the US election. Meta plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality, and which many news organizations will not have access to. "We write with concern about Meta's announced plan to end access" to the "powerful transparency tool," a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote in a letter to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. "We urge Meta to, at a minimum, postpone this plan for six months and provide further information about its plans and commitment to ensure sufficient transparency for independent research going forward." The letter seen by AFP was signed by 17 lawmakers -- on both sides of the political aisle -- including senators Chris Coons (Democrat) and Bill Cassidy (Republican) as well as representatives Lori Trahan (Democrat) and Neal Dunn (Republican). CrowdTangle has been a game-changer for years, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a technology still under development. It's a tool that some in the tech industry, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, say is currently not an effective replacement, especially in elections likely to see a proliferation of falsehoods enabled by artificial intelligence. "We are deeply concerned that Meta Content Library has significant limitations that make it an inadequate replacement for CrowdTangle at the current time," the lawmakers wrote. "There are also questions of how many organizations will have access to and the practical ability to use Meta Content Library if CrowdTangle access is ended." There was no immediate comment from Meta. Organizations that debunk misinformation as part of Meta's third-party fact-checking program, including AFP, will have access to the Content Library. But the tech giant, which has been moving away from news across its platforms, will not make the new tool accessible to for-profit media. Journalists have used CrowdTangle in the past to investigate public health crises as well as human rights abuses and natural disasters. Killing off the tool is seen as a major blow in a year when dozens of countries are holding elections -- a period when bad actors typically spread false narratives more than ever. Earlier this year, global nonprofit Mozilla Foundation voiced alarm in an open letter to Meta that was signed by dozens of tech watchdogs and researchers. Decommissioning CrowdTangle would be a "direct threat" to the integrity of elections, the letter warned, calling on Meta to retain CrowdTangle at least until January 2025.
[3]
US lawmakers urge Meta to delay shutting down transparency tool - VnExpress International
The Palo Alto company has said CrowdTangle will be unavailable after Aug. 14 -- less than three months before the U.S. election. Meta plans to replace it with a new tool that researchers say lacks the same functionality, and which many news organizations will not have access to. "We write with concern about Meta's announced plan to end access" to the "powerful transparency tool," a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote in a letter to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. "We urge Meta to, at a minimum, postpone this plan for six months and provide further information about its plans and commitment to ensure sufficient transparency for independent research going forward." The letter seen by AFP was signed by 17 lawmakers - on both sides of the political aisle - including senators Chris Coons (Democrat) and Bill Cassidy (Republican) as well as representatives Lori Trahan (Democrat) and Neal Dunn (Republican). CrowdTangle has been a game-changer for years, offering researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on influential Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a technology still under development. It's a tool that some in the tech industry, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, say is currently not an effective replacement, especially in elections likely to see a proliferation of falsehoods enabled by artificial intelligence. "We are deeply concerned that Meta Content Library has significant limitations that make it an inadequate replacement for CrowdTangle at the current time," the lawmakers wrote. "There are also questions of how many organizations will have access to and the practical ability to use Meta Content Library if CrowdTangle access is ended." There was no immediate comment from Meta. Organizations that debunk misinformation as part of Meta's third-party fact-checking program, including AFP, will have access to the Content Library. But the tech giant, which has been moving away from news across its platforms, will not make the new tool accessible to for-profit media. Journalists have used CrowdTangle in the past to investigate public health crises as well as human rights abuses and natural disasters. Killing off the tool is seen as a major blow in a year when dozens of countries are holding elections -- a period when bad actors typically spread false narratives more than ever. Earlier this year, global nonprofit Mozilla Foundation voiced alarm in an open letter to Meta that was signed by dozens of tech watchdogs and researchers. Decommissioning CrowdTangle would be a "direct threat" to the integrity of elections, the letter warned, calling on Meta to retain CrowdTangle at least until January 2025.
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US lawmakers have called on Meta to postpone the shutdown of CrowdTangle, a social media monitoring tool, citing concerns about election integrity and public safety. The tool is widely used by researchers and journalists to track content on Facebook and Instagram.
Lawmakers' Appeal to Meta
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to delay its plans to shut down CrowdTangle, a valuable social media monitoring tool. In a letter addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the legislators expressed their concerns about the potential impact on election integrity and public safety
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.The Importance of CrowdTangle
CrowdTangle, acquired by Facebook in 2016, has become an essential tool for researchers, journalists, and fact-checkers worldwide. It allows users to track how content spreads across social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The tool has been particularly useful in monitoring misinformation, election-related content, and other critical issues
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.Meta's Plans and Concerns
Meta had previously announced its intention to retire CrowdTangle by August 14, 2023. The company plans to replace it with a new tool called "Content Library," which is still in development. However, lawmakers and transparency advocates worry that the new tool may not offer the same level of functionality and ease of use as CrowdTangle
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.Implications for Election Integrity
The timing of CrowdTangle's shutdown is particularly concerning for lawmakers, given the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. They argue that removing such a crucial transparency tool could hinder efforts to combat misinformation and ensure election integrity. The letter emphasizes the need for continued access to tools that provide insights into content trends on major social media platforms
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Broader Concerns About Social Media Transparency
This issue highlights broader concerns about transparency in social media platforms. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have long pushed for greater access to data and tools that allow for independent research and monitoring of content on these platforms. The potential loss of CrowdTangle has reignited debates about the responsibilities of tech giants in facilitating public oversight
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.Meta's Response and Future Plans
Meta has stated that it is committed to providing transparency tools and that the new Content Library will offer similar functionality to CrowdTangle. However, details about the new tool's capabilities and release date remain unclear. The company faces pressure to ensure a smooth transition and to maintain or enhance the level of transparency provided by CrowdTangle
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|US lawmakers urge Meta to delay shutting down transparency tool - VnExpress International
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