Facebook confronts civil rights complaints it put off for years

Civil rights groups have long been asking Facebook to make policy and staffing changes to address their concerns, including how the platform has promoted discriminatory advertising, allowed foreign adversaries to try to suppress the Black vote, and let white supremacy groups organise rallies. — AP

For years, Facebook Inc brushed off complaints from civil rights groups that it didn’t do enough to combat racism, discrimination and voter suppression flourishing on its site. Now, pressure from a boycott by major advertisers is forcing the social media giant to address their concerns.

Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to meet on Tuesday with leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change to discuss their requests. Facebook is increasingly playing defense against a growing group of civil rights organisations, employees and companies demanding that the technology giant do more to fight injustice on its platform.