Newcomer
Newcomer Podcast
The Media's Facebook Deflection (w/Alex Stamos)
1×
0:00
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -48:17
-48:17

The Media's Facebook Deflection (w/Alex Stamos)

A fresh look at Facebook-Russia coverage with Facebook's ex-chief security officer.

We talked to former Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos about what the media got right and wrong about its coverage of Facebook’s influence on the 2016 election. Stamos — who played a key role in bringing information to Robert Mueller about Russian election interference — is someone who is willing to criticize his former employer without letting the media off the hook.

Stamos argues that Facebook inadequately addressed misinformation posted onto Facebook’s platform and downplayed its discovery of Russian election interference on its platform. BUT, Stamos argues that the media played a far larger role in helping Russian election interference by gleefully publishing stolen Democratic National Committee emails.

We decided to check in with Stamos as the credibility of the Steele dossier has continued to unravel.

We talk about the media’s failure to soul search over its own role in the hacked election. We also discuss the Facebook Files and Stamos’ objections to some of the latest reporting on Facebook.

Background reading:

Opinion: Indictment of Steele dossier source is more bad news for multiple media outlets

How Did So Much of the Media Get the Steele Dossier So Wrong?

Collusion? Who needs it when Facebook was allowing Russians to help Trump?

Discussion about this podcast

Newcomer
Newcomer Podcast
A podcast about Silicon Valley, hosted by newsletter writer and independent journalist Eric Newcomer. Listen in for interviews with the dealmakers and builders who matter. Subscribe to newcomer.co for summaries of the episodes plus tech industry news, scoops, and analysis.