Does Facebook think you’re an extremist?
July 1, 2021
Facebook has ushered in a new level of Big Brother monitoring today that promises to help users avoid becoming radical extremists.
In a series of notifications, Facebook is warning users that friends and family may have been exposed to extreme content and offers to get them help.
“Are you concerned that someone you know is becoming an extremist?” says one Facebook notification.
“We care about preventing extremism on Facebook,” the notice continues as it offers help. “Others in your situation have received confidential support”
Another warns that the user may have been exposed to extreme content before giving this dark warning:
“Violent groups try to manipulate your anger and disappointment. You can take action now to protect yourself and others.”
The notice then offers help from “experts.”
When users click on the support icon they are delivered to a Facebook help page that provides some of the same second-grade reading level support that is a hallmark of Facebook technical support.
The really creepy part is that the notices don’t seem to be triggered by a particular piece of content.
Instead, it seems to be in reaction to a type of content that is consumed by the user.
It looks like Facebook has combined content with personally identifiable information to generate these warnings.
Oddly enough, no similar warnings were used for those who promoted BLM riots last summer.