Category Archives: Accountability and Representation

When the media does us wrong and community accountability

Accountability and Representation, Press Room

Facebook Users Union Launches #FIREZUCK Campaign: OCTOBER 17 Protest

Update: On October 17, Facebook Users Union members rolled a car caravan through Palo Alto demanding Zuckerberg step down from Facebook. Read the press coverage:

KTVU: Protesters demand CEO Mark Zuckerberg leave Facebook

KCBS: Protesters call for Mark Zuckerberg’s resignation

KRON: Facebook Users Union plans to protest Mark Zuckerberg

Palo Alto Weekly: ‘Get the Zuck out’: Protesters call for Mark Zuckerberg’s removal as Facebook CEO

KPFA: Flashpoints: Facebook Users Union Launches #FireZuck Campaign

The Patch: Protest Held at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Home

Between The Lines:Facebook Whistleblower’s Explosive testimony Provokes Calls for Regulation

Indybay: Get the Zuck OUT video (50 seconds)

San Francisco-Last night, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told 60 Minutes that Facebook is misleading the public about lies, hate and disinformation on its platform. We wish we were surprised. Time and time again, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has put Facebook’s profits ahead of truth, safety, health and democracy.

That’s why today the Facebook Users Union launched a #FireZuck campaign telling Facebook that it’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to go. They launched petitions on several platforms and are calling for a protest outside of Mark Zuckerberg’s house in Palo Alto on October 17.

Continue reading Facebook Users Union Launches #FIREZUCK Campaign: OCTOBER 17 Protest →
Accountability and Representation

Facebook Users Union and Friends Chase Facebook out of Netroots Nation

The Facebook Users Union, a project of Media Alliance and Global Exchange, coordinated an attendee pushback at Meta’s booth at the progressive convention at Netroots Nation.

FUU campaign lead Brittany Williams was at Netroots to speak on a panel on social media accountability. Below she tells NewsOne why she was moved to take action against the company’s presence.

Continue reading Facebook Users Union and Friends Chase Facebook out of Netroots Nation →
Accountability and Representation

Check Big Tech: User and Worker Town Hall November 17th

FUU People Power is committed to building a user led movement to hold Big Tech companies like Facebook accountable. We are launching our Check Big Tech: User and Tech Workers Town Hall.

Will you join us on November 17th from 10:00am – 5:00pm?

As we approach the 2024 presidential election we can no longer allow lawmakers to accept donations to support the same Big Tech companies  that harm both users and workers around the world.

We are hosting this town hall to set the agenda for user and tech worker solidarity that can hold Big Tech and elected officials accountable.

To register as a individual please visit: https://hopin.com/events/user-and-tech-worker-town-hall

REGISTER

If your organization would like to become an official partner or sponsor of our User and Tech Worker Town hall, here is the link for more information. 

Facebook Users Union AKA FUU People Power is a project of Media Alliance and Global Exchange.

Accountability and Representation, Press Room

S.F. Supes Again Condemn Zuckerberg’s Name on City General Hospital

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by Michael Cabanatuan. Originally published in SF Chronicle

A committee of San Francisco supervisors on Thursday condemned the naming of San Francisco General Hospital for Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, citing a long list of grievances against the social media giant and claiming its practices endanger public health.

The three-member Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to condemn the hospital’s name and to develop a better policy for future naming of public facilities. The resolution, which carries no legal mandates, was mostly a statement of opinion by the board — and a chance to bash Facebook. The board is constrained in its contract with Zuckerberg in removing his name from the hospital.

Continue reading S.F. Supes Again Condemn Zuckerberg’s Name on City General Hospital →
Accountability and Representation, Consumer Privacy, Press Room

Social Media Data Act

Media Alliance is a proud supporter of the Social Media DATA Act, introduced into Congress by MA democrat Lori Trahan. The DATA Act would compel social media companies to preserve their ad libraries and make them available to academic researchers to study the impact of targeted advertising.

See what people are saying about the Social Media DATA Act.

Tracy Rosenberg, Executive Director, Media Alliance:
“The Social Media Data Act would ensure that qualified academic researchers can study social media advertising and its impacts with unimpeded access to the data they need. Digital advertising uses the information social media platforms collect about us to expose us to
individualized targeted advertising for profit. Such advertising can be based on our preferences, associations, location, the state of our health, religion, race or age, When profit-driven imperatives control much of our social media feeds, we see different content based on who we are. This can result in discriminatory outcomes, increased polarization, the spread of misinformation, and the use of our most personal characteristics to manipulate our perceptions of the world. This should not go on in a black box where we cannot see under the hood to measure what is happening to us. With transparent access to social media advertising metrics, we can develop best practices to meaningfully study impact and develop policy to mitigate harm and protect personal privacy and vulnerable populations subject to discrimination. Social media has changed the world, in both positive and negative ways, and we should be able to reap the benefits without sacrificing our civil and human rights, if not the health of democracy itself. The Social Media Data Act would help to find that balance.”

Continue reading Social Media Data Act →
Accountability and Representation

Bad Apple Open Source Suite: Tools for Police Accountability

The Aaron Swartz Day Police Surveillance Project teamed up with Priveasy to create a set of tools designed to assist in the ongoing fight for police and sheriff accountability. Bad Apple (https://BadApple.tools) contains a) a searchable database of verified oversight commissions b) a searchable collection of public records act templates c) a growing database of officers and investigative reports and d) a private tip submission line.

All of the technology powering Bad Apple is completely open source (https://GitHub.com/P5vc) and released under a CC-BY-SA-4.0 license, allowing for maximum transparency. The Bad Apple website is available in both English and Spanish, and is designed to be completely accessible.

Read more here.

Accountability and Representation

Strengthening CCPA

 

15 prominent privacy groups (including Media Alliance) sent a letter to the CA Legislature encouraging them to strengthen California’s state privacy law (CCPA), the only statewide comprehensive consumer privacy legislation in the county, and prevent industry gutting it prior to 2020, when the law is scheduled to take effect.

The privacy groups stated “We urge you to keep the focus on strengthening protections for your constituents, and to reject
efforts to diminish Californians’ privacy and security protections.” Continue reading Strengthening CCPA →

Accountability and Representation

Urban Shield/UASI Task Force – Selected Recommendations

 

Alameda County’s Urban Shield/UASI Task Force has been charged with “ending Urban Shield as we know it” and rethinking the County’s use of the Homeland Security monies it receives for disaster preparedness training.

On December 14, the five-person task force will debate and vote on over 60 recommendations developed by task force members and received via community input,  and decide what to put in their final report.  Continue reading Urban Shield/UASI Task Force – Selected Recommendations →