NDP calls for independent social media regulator as scrutiny of Facebook heats up

The New Democrats are demanding the federal government crack down on social media giants following recent revelations by a Facebook executive.

At a news conference in Ottawa Monday morning, NDP MP Charlie Angus called on Ottawa to establish an independent regulator to address disinformation, hateful posts and algorithm transparency on digital platforms.

Angus says Facebook seems to be using algorithms and artificial intelligence to “drive extremist content and undermine democracy,” as the company confronts intense public scrutiny over how its coding fans inflammatory rhetoric and affects users’ self-esteem.

“That’s where we need to focus, because the massive use of algorithms and AI, and their deliberate misuse by Facebook must be addressed. The corporate heads at both Facebook and YouTube have realized that there’s way more money to be made by driving viewers to extremist content than providing a wide array of choice,” he explained, adding we’ve seen, as a result, “a breakdown of civil discourse.”

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before a United States Senate committee earlier this month that the company’s products harm children and fuel polarization in the U.S., a claim supported by internal company research leaked to the Wall Street Journal.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged in last month’s federal election to introduce legislation within 100 days that combats online hate speech and content that incites violence, following the failure of a Liberal bill aiming to regulate Facebook and other platforms.

Angus claimed that the legislation, which died in the Senate after the election was triggered in August, amounted to a “political dumpster fire” and that having Canada’s telecommunications regulator address Facebook algorithms would bring “a 1980s solution to a 21st century problem.”

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“Because of the decision of Justin Trudeau to call an early election, he has the opportunity now to set things right, because all of his tech legislation, which was so badly flawed, has been put in the garbage can of history. So now we get a chance to rethink and do this right,” he said.

“The distortion of the content through the use of algorithms has led to violence and the breakdown of civic engagement. For the health of our democracy, we need to force accountability and transparency as to how the algorithms are being exploited,” Angus added.