Assignment:
Homework Assignment: Free Speech and "The Facebook Dilemma"
Part I: https://www.pbs.org/video/the-facebook-dilemma-part-one-s43cuc/ 55 minutes
1) According to the film, what happens when Facebook makes its rules regarding speech on its website? Discuss 2 reasons why the rules weren't very effective?
2) What is disinformation? How was Facebook being used for disinformation? Is disinformation on Facebook a threat to democracy and national security? Explain your answer using an example from the film. How did Facebook view this issue?
Part II: https://www.pbs.org/video/the-facebook-dilemma-part-two-iev1xh/ 55 minutes
1) What is "micro-targeting"? How did Facebook have a financial incentive to allow divisive or polarizing content? Who edited such content?
2) How did Russia create content "to drive the groups apart and make Americans not trust each other". Discuss what happened with the example in Houston.
3) Explain what happened in the Philippines.
Review the quote: "What they didn't realize is that countries like the Philippines... where institutions are weak and corruption is rampant, these countries don't have the safeguards."
Discuss 2 safeguards you think we have here in the U.S. which are supposed to help to support the accuracy of free speech. Do you think the safeguards you discussed are enough? Explain your answer.
4) Facebook argues that the people using the service will hold Facebook accountable. Do you agree or disagree with this argument? Explain 2 reasons for your answer.