US episode shows Facebook can be danger to democracy
Thai people should watch closely how social media can cause unexpected political unstableness in this country, in the same way as is happening in the United States.
In the US, Facebook is being criticised for displaying political bias that could cause democracy in that country to go astray.
US media have published reports of how Facebook has allowed its former site contractors – who are themselves former journalists – to downplay and suppress conservative political news and views on its “Trending Topics” section.
Finally, Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg on Wednesday announced that the company will start training its employees to “confront their own political biases” – on top of the current training that the company has on racial, age, gender and national bias – in order to maintain the firm’s neutrality.
It looks like social media – if used without conscience by people – can be a destabilising force against democracy anywhere in the world.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
