Lawmakers Chide CEOs About Use of Algorithms to Recommend Content

By Jeff Horwitz

Members of Congress lambasted Facebook and other social-media platforms for algorithmic content-recommendation systems that they allege inflame social tensions and harm children.

Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers, (R., Wash.) alleged that social media contributed to teen suicides and was a threat to her own family. Members from both parties questioned the platforms' incentives to act responsibly. Other members argued that the platforms' algorithms had fueled the discord that led to the Capitol riot.

Mr. Zuckerberg put the blame on the people who had misused the platform, not Facebook's systems for showing users content.

"I think the responsibility lies with the people who broke the law," Mr. Zuckerberg said.

He acknowledged that past Facebook research, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last year (https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knew-calls-for-violence-plagued-groups-now-plans-overhaul-11612131374), had found that its algorithms were steering German users toward extremist groups. But he said the company had taken adequate steps to fix the problem.

Facebook has since eliminated recommendations for political groups entirely. Mr. Zuckerberg dismissed the idea that Facebook prioritized keeping users on the platform above healthy discussion.

"The way we design our algorithms is to increase meaningful social interactions," he said.

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March 25, 2021 14:20 ET (18:20 GMT)

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