Hmm... New Facebook PR Ad Almost BEGS for Government Regulation

Something is amiss in Zuckerville, America. Mark Zuckerville’s playground has spent years building a well-deserved reputation for not only suppressing conservative content but also lying about doing so.

I know what I’m talking about: A site I wrote for was all but crippled by one of Zuck’s early algorithm manipulations. Overnight. On a Thursday, as I recall. Within weeks, the site’s top talent was gone.

So… imagine my surprise, a couple of weeks ago, when I saw a Facebook PR ad on TV, an obvious attempt to humanize the company (and its founder).

The ad, titled “An Open Conversation with Rochelle,” was also posted to the Facebook — now “Meta,” the new parent name of Zuck’s ever-menacing empire — YouTube channel, and is described thusly:

Rochelle is one of many experts working on privacy at Facebook — to give you more control over your information. She recently sat down to talk about why Facebook supports updating regulations on the internet’s most pressing challenges, including federal privacy legislation.

Sorry, having spent more time in the Zuckerville gulag than I can remember — a badge of honor — I’m not buying. Worse, the first time I saw the ad I envisioned Zuck, just off-camera, his beady eyes burning a hole through Rochelle’s forehead; just to make sure she stayed on-script, word for carefully crafted word.

“My name is Rochelle, and I’m on the Facebook privacy team,” beams the “actor.” “Tell me a little bit about your job, what does it entail?”, asks the pretend-interviewer.

“I actually help people understand their privacy because it means different things to different people. You should be able to understand who has your data and how they use it.

“Federal legislation can give our platforms and other platforms guidelines so we can have a consistent approach.”

The ad then goes to white-screen with the message: “Learn why we support internet regulations including privacy at fb.com/egulations”

We’re talking about an ad that would’ve put the Soviet Union’s Tass to shame in its propaganda glory days.

The light “happy” music was a nice touch, don’t you think?

Being the inquisitive sort I am, I hopped over to fb.com/regulations, just as the very-caring Facebook lady suggested. Here’s what I found, in part (emphasis, mine):

We support updated regulations on the internet’s most pressing challenges

A lot has changed in the last 25 years. But the last time comprehensive internet regulations were passed was in 1996. We want updated internet regulations to set clear guidelines for addressing today’s toughest challenges.

HEAR MORE OPEN CONVERSATIONS WITH META EMPLOYEES

The above ad and a similar ad featuring “Jack” are next. Then the propaganda is piled hired and deeper, as the old “Ph.D.” thing goes.

We continue to take critical steps to improve and secure our platforms

Meta is not waiting for regulation. We’re continuing to make progress on key issues. We’ve quadrupled our security and safety teams to 40,000 people and built new privacy tools. We’re also working with tech peers to make it easier for people to move their data between platforms securely.

While we at Meta are working to make progress, we know that we can’t – and shouldn’t – do it alone. That’s why we support regulations to set clear and fair rules for everyone, and support a safe and secure open internet where creativity and competition can thrive.

Yeah, I’m still not buying. Zuckerberg’s idea of “clear and fair rules for everyone” is not the same idea that most of us — conservatives — have or are willing to accept.

As we reported — and not the first time —in late October, an investigation by The Wall Street Journal found that Facebook employees have consistently attempted to suppress or de-platform conservative outlets, despite objections by managers who fear political fallout. The WSJ allegedly saw internal discussions on a message board used by employees.

Just 10 days earlier we reported that Zuckerberg spent nearly half a billion dollars with hard-left organizations in a concerted effort to prop up Democrat candidates in the 2020 election.

According to The New York Post — in just one example — ZuckBucks significantly increased Joe Biden’s vote margin in key swing states. Specifically, in Georgia, where Biden won by 12,000 votes, and in Arizona, where he won by 10,000. The spending, said The Post, likely put Biden over the top in both states.

And in September, as we reported, Libertarian investigator John Stossel announced a lawsuit against Facebook in which he is seeking at least $2 million in damages, alleging the social media giant defamed him by appending fact-checking labels to two videos he posted about climate change. In a statement to Variety, a Facebook spokesperson said, “We believe this case is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously against the allegations.”

When Facebook claims someone spreads misleading or partly false info, we who are accused have little recourse.

I spent a year trying to get Facebook and it’s “fact checkers” to correct false things they posted about me.

Now I’m taking them to court.https://t.co/D86NezktTO

— John Stossel (@JohnStossel) September 24, 2021