Facebook is the subject of two new complaints from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed by Whistleblower Aid, a non-profit organization representing the person who reported Facebook irregularities, Francis Haugen, first reported by The Washington Post. The complaints accuse Facebook, now Meta, of misleading investors about its efforts to tackle disinformation about climate change and COVID-19.
The first complaint received from The Washington Post, claims that there is easily accessible misinformation about climate change on Facebook, which makes Facebook’s claims that it is fighting climate change to weaken. It also contains internal documents describing employees’ own experiences with climate-related lies on the platform. As noted by The message, one employee reported looking for “climate change” in the Watch section and then saw a video promoting “wrong climate information” as a second result. The video reportedly garnered 6.6 million views. Another employee allegedly called on the company to remove climate misinformation instead of simply labeling publications with potential untruths.
The complaint also mentions Facebook’s Climate Science Information Center, a center for reliable information on climate change, which the platform launched in 2020. As reported The message, the complaint refers to internal records claiming that consumer awareness of the center was ‘very low’, suggesting that it may not have had the intended scope. Last year, Meta tried to strengthen its climate information center with additional quizzes, videos and facts. A study conducted months later found that denial of climate change has become even more widespread on the platform.
The second complaint alleges that Facebook’s promise to fight disinformation about COVID-19 is inconsistent with its actions. According to The message, the complaint cites an internal document showing a 20% increase in misinformation in April 2020, as well as a May 2020 record in which officials indicated the existence of hundreds of anti-quarantine groups. Last July, President Joe Biden accused Facebook and other social platforms of “killing people” with misinformation about COVID-19 and its vaccines.
Haugen leaked numerous internal documents on Facebook – called Facebook Papers – on Facebook Wall Street Journal last year. She has since testified before Congress to discuss possible changes to Section 230, a law that protects websites from legal liability for illegal content that users may post.
Meta and the SEC did not respond immediately On the edgerequest for comment.