Ireland has a “really unique opportunity” to “step up to the plate” in order to ensure tech companies are properly regulated, a Facebook whistleblower says.
Frances Haugen, who worked as a product manager at social media company Facebook, is to appear before an Oireachtas committee later on Wednesday to discuss online disinformation and media literacy. She is also expected to call for an independent review of the Data Protection Commission.
Last year, Ms Haugen leaked internal company documents to the media and claimed Facebook was guilty of putting profits ahead of public safety.
Since leaving Facebook, Ms Haugen has spoken publicly about her concerns with Facebook’s practices, suggesting the company’s products "harm children, stoke division and weaken democracy."
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Ms Haugen said because much of big tech is homed out of Ireland, “Ireland plays a critical role in making sure things like the [EU's proposed] digital services act are adequately enforced.
“I strongly encourage Ireland to step up to the plate and make sure a regulator is put in place to make sure these regulations are implemented. A law is only as good as its implementation,” she said.
However, Ms Haugen believes Europe must work together to regulate big tech firms and that the burden should not be placed on Ireland alone.
“If we want to do a good job of holding tech accountable — and I think Ireland holds a very special role on that — we have to adequately fund our regulator.
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