Insider Q&A: Sophie Zhang, Facebook whistleblower

Insider Q&A: Sophie Zhang, Facebook whistleblower

3 years ago
Anonymous $OlGJJXacOb

https://apnews.com/6df84710d91b491d97eb98cde5432dc7

Sophie Zhang worked as a Facebook data scientist for nearly three years before was she fired in the fall of 2020. On her final day, she posted a 7,800-word memo to the company’s internal forum — such farewell notes, if not the length, are a common practice for departing employees. In the memo, first published by Buzzfeed, she outlined evidence that governments in countries like Azerbaijan and Honduras were using fake accounts to influence the public. Elsewhere, such as India and Ecuador, Zhang found coordinated activity intended to manipulate public opinion, although it wasn’t clear who was behind it. Facebook, she said, didn't take her findings seriously.

Zhang’s experience led her to a stark conclusion: “I have blood on my hands.”