Chris Hughes, Facebook’s co-founder warns: to maintain freedom, it is necessary to dismantle dismember Zuckerberg’s company. Here’s why
Chris Hughes, founder of Facebook along with Mark Zuckerberg, was the protagonist of a long article published in the New York Times. In the essay, he described how he hopes for the future of the social network. In particular, how the platform will have to scale back its power to protect users.
Hughes in the publication mentioned several hot topics, not least the Cambridge Analytica scandal and interference with the 2016 U.S. elections. These provided a first-hand look at how much Facebook can influence world politics and society. The entrepreneur also described what happens every time Facebook is at the center of a scandal: initially there is general outrage, then there is disappointment and finally resignation. However, his thought is clear: to minimize the risks and protect users there is only one move to make, dismember the big company run by Zuckerberg.
Chris Hughes and the portrait of Mark Zuckerberg
Chris Hughes has known the Facebook CEO for decades. Together they founded the social network back in 2004 and experienced some of the social network’s early successes. In his lengthy article published in the New York Times, he spoke at length about Mark Zuckerberg, drawing an interesting profile.
First, he began by defining Facebook as a “huge leviathan invading the American business world and limiting consumer choice.” Mark Zuckerberg’s power in this context is unprecedented and unchecked. Hughes has spent good words about his old friend, calling him good and kind. However, the control mania has led him to neglect people’s safety and freedom. In fact, today Facebook is able to influence consumer choices and go so far as to drive the political climate. According to the author, Mark surrounds himself with people who pander to him and don’t really question his business choices. And this is likely to have negative impacts on the community.
And this is where he issues a call to the U.S. government: to monitor Zuckerberg’s actions more carefully and in particular to dismantle Facebook’s monopoly.
Corporate Mark Zuckerberg’s company
According to Hughes, the solution to downsizing the power of Mark Zuckerberg and his company is to dismantle the company and split Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp into three different publicly traded companies. Over time, Zuckerberg and other executives would have to give up their market shares, so as to avoid centralized and therefore more dangerous power.
Hughes also mentioned the importance of improving privacy across all services, resorting to a collaboration between Zuckerberg’s team and the authorities. The first step is to expand end-to-end encryption to all apps, then it will be necessary to create a government agency designed to monitor tech companies so they don’t gain unchecked power. Facebook is among the many Silicon Valley giants that are already following the new European Privacy Protection Regulation, which went into effect in May 2018. But that is not enough; targeted actions are needed.