Facebook faces a new controversy over alleged tactics it used to discredit its critics, embarrass rival firms and downplay problems at the company.
The
New York Times has published a wide-ranging account of the methods Facebook and a public relations firm used to "deny and deflect" criticism. The report has led US lawmakers to call for tighter regulation of social networks. Facebook has denied several of the claims. The New York Times report claimed Facebook:
- urged reporters to investigate whether there were financial links between billionaire George Soros, a prominent philanthropist, and an anti-Facebook movement
- tried to discredit anti-Facebook protesters as anti-Semitic
- ordered the publication of derogatory articles about rivals
- watered down posts about Russian election interference and was slow to act
- considered dragging rival companies into its controversies