New America's OTI Will No Longer Accept Facebook Funding

Here is a statement from New America's Open Technology Institute (OTI):

Last week, leadership at Facebook refused to take down a post from President Donald Trump threatening that "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" in reference to nationwide demonstrations against police brutality, as well as other posts from the President that promoted disinformation about mail-in voting. Civil rights groups sharply criticized the policy, and hundreds of Facebook employees staged a “virtual walkout” in protest of the company’s decision. Amid this outcry, Facebook’s leadership dismissed civil rights groups’ concerns and reiterated the company’s policy of non-intervention for harmful posts by public figures that would otherwise violate the platform's policies.

In reflection on Facebook’s years of struggles to implement content moderation policies that do not reinforce systems of racism, and in light of the failure of the company’s leaders to respond meaningfully to concerns raised against the backdrop of the past weeks’ deep turmoil, the Open Technology Institute has decided that, as of today, it will decline further funding from Facebook.

Recent New America donors and partners include: New York City Economic Development Corporation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, US State Department, Aphorism Foundation, Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Omidyar Network, Skoll Global Threats Fund, Siemens Foundation, Ballmer Group, Reid Hoffman Foundation, Pivotal Ventures LLC, JPMorgan Chase, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Florida International University, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Facebook funds and partners with a number of other think tanks, including Atlantic Council, Center for American Progress (CAP), Third Way, and American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

Here is a 2018 Think Tank Watch post entitled "Dark Clouds Linger Over Think Tank New America."  Here is another post from 2017, when a scholar from New America was fired for criticizing Google, one of its major donors.

Atlantic Council Working With Facebook to Fight Election Disinformation

Here is more from an Atlantic Council press release:

The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (@DFRLab) today announced a partnership with Facebook to independently monitor disinformation and other vulnerabilities in elections around the world. The effort is part of an initiative to help provide credible research about the role of social media in elections, as well as democracy more generally. 

The Atlantic Council and Facebook’s partnership will promote and supplement @DFRLab’s existing #ElectionWatch efforts and allow for greater capacity building with journalists and civil society to incorporate similar methods into their own work.

The @DFRLab is at the forefront of open source research with a focus on governance, technology, security, and where each intersect. By publishing what it can prove, or disprove, in real-time, the @DFRLab is creating a new model of research and education adapted for impact, as well as building a global network of #DigitalSherlocks. The @DFRLab remains committed to identifying, exposing, and explaining disinformation where and when it exists. 

Daily Caller headline: George Soros-linked think tank partnership with Facebook.

Common Dreams headline: "Alarming:" Facebook teams up with think tank funded by Saudi Arabia and military contractors to "protect" democracy.

Google's Jigsaw has also announced that it will help political campaigns thwart cyberattacks.

Here is a previous Think Tank Watch piece about how Atlantic Council is working to secure future US elections.

Think Tank Creates Bingo Game for Facebook Hearing

This is from the conservative think tank R Street Institute:

TODAY! Play along!

ZUCKERBINGOhttps://t.co/BaPHbM9f8P #Zuckerberg #facebook pic.twitter.com/KJsofyjfqF

— R Street Institute 🚫👞🐍 (@RSI) April 10, 2018

Background and rules:

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be testifying before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday. So join us in playing ZUCKERBINGO!

Step 1: Use the following words to fill out your own BINGO board. Make sure it’s 5 squares by 5 squares, and that you have a free space – paid for by ads – in the middle.

Step 2: As congressmen and Zuckerberg say the words, mark them off.

Step 3: Tweet us at @RSI with an image of your board when you have BINGO!

The first player to win will get a “No Step on Snek” mug. Other winners will be randomly selected to win prizes.

Tweet us as you hear the ZUCKERBINGO words for extra credit!


Tip: If you like that game, you may want to print out this think tank event bingo sheet.