Misinformation about the Facebook whistleblower gaining ground

Reporter: Peter Fleischer Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
FILE – In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, file photo, the Facebook logo is displayed at a gathering for startup companies at Paris’ Station F. Facebook has allowed groups, many tied to QAnon and militia movements, to glorify violence during the 2020 election, a new report has found. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

After 60 Minutes aired a story about the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, theories started to sweep social media with a picture of her from that interview.

The question being asked; did she really come forward on her own?

The former Facebook employee testified during a Senate committee on commerce, science, and transportation hearing on capitol hill last week.

Frances Haugen leaked internal documents to the Wall Street Journal and filed whistleblower complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Her picture appeared on a viral image with the caption, “imagine planting your own whistleblower to expose yourself for not censoring enough so you can censor more.”

The post has 25-thousand interactions.

Facebook denied an unsubstantiated rumor circulating on social media that said the company is using Haugen as a “plant,” and a Wall Street Journal spokesperson said the outlet is, “confident in the legitimacy of our sourcing.”

Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have also disputed some of the claims made by Haugen and the Wall Street Journal in various statements.

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