Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, who worked alongside Mark Zuckerberg to set up Facebook is calling for a breakup.
Hughes believes that the chief executive of Facebook, Zuckerberg has “unchecked power and influence” more than anyone in the private or government sector.
He’s calling for a regulation seeing that Facebook is solely focused on growth and taking over the social media space and instant messaging service. He says further that Facebook should be propelled to reverse its acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp, which he referred to as “powerful monopoly.”
“I’m disappointed in myself and the early Facebook team for not thinking more about how the News Feed algorithm could change our culture, influence elections and empower nationalist leaders. And I’m worried that Mark has surrounded himself with a team that reinforces his beliefs instead of challenging them.”
Hughes is the newest in the news to call for regulation of the social network and other online platforms. Over the years, the internet has been the venue for election meddling, the spread of misinformation, amidst the wave of scandals.
Even though other bodies such as the British government and a couple of watchdogs have called for regulation, Hughes is calling on the US government to create an external agency that will regulate tech companies. He strongly condemns the practice of monopoly Which he thinks should be reversed. The acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp limits consumer choice in his opinion. He said:
“Zuckerberg has created a leviathan that crowds out entrepreneurship and restricts consumer choice. It is on our government to ensure that we never lose the magic of the invisible hand.”
Facebook accepts the criticism that accountability can only be achieved through painstakingly introducing new rules for the internet. However, Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president of global affairs argues that liability should be accompanied by success
“But you don’t enforce accountability by calling for the breakup of a successful American company.”
Hughes argument is a pointer that he might not be comfortable with Zuckerberg taking over the social media space. Facebook currently dominates an estimated 80% of the world’s social network revenue.
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