FRANK PALLONE, J, NEW JERSEY (GREG WALDEN, OREGON CHAIRMAN RANKING MEMBER (ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS. Congress of the United States House of Representatives COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE 2125 Ravauen House Ornice Buiwons Wasianaron, DC 20515-8115, June 26,2019 ‘Mark Zuckerberg. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Facebook, Inc. 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025 Dear Mr. Zuckerberg: We write to express our deep concetns about the doctored video of Speaker Pelos that was posted ‘on Facebook's platform last month and has been viewed by millions of people.! The spread of politcal disinformation on social media poses grave consequences to our nation's democracy. When you testified before our committee in April 2018, you stated that “...i's clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well.” You then noted, “that 20s for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech... .”® Today, more than a year sinoe this hearing, it appears that necessary actions to adress political disinformation on your platform have yet to be taken, ‘We recognize your recent steps to remove fake accounts from the platform, However, removing fake accounts does not address the spreading of politcal disinformation by real accounts. We are concerned that you and your company are not taking these occurrences seriously and are grossly ‘unprepared for the 2020 election, Specifically, we are concerned that there may bea potential conflict of interest between Facebook's bottom line and immediately addressing politcal disinformation on your platform, In an effort to help us better understand how you and your company have handled the doctored video of Speaker Pelosi and your company's polices governing these practices, we ask that you answer the {questions below in as much detail as possible and provide us with answers by July 17,2019. " Manpulted Video Targating Peles! Goes Viral, FacCbeck org, May 24,2019, avaiable at air thc o/201910 nile video gting-els- go via. Tein of Mark Zckerber befor the House Energy and Commerce Commitee Hating on “Facebok: “Trapreny and the us of Canumer Dat” April 1, 2018, avalable at Tenens yeomnetee house goles deocra ere us. g0 ls document Testinony-Zuckecbers- Ceflon- Facebook Transparency ad-sf-Consumer-Dal 2018-01 When (date and time) was the original doctored video of Speaker Pelosi first reviewed by Facebook, what triggered the review, whet standards were used to conduct the review, and what \was the outeome of the review? 2. Did Facebook review the original doctored video or copies of the doctored video to determine if ‘ad breaks should be allowed in the video, i the video should be boosted if the video should be delivered through any other form of advertisement, or ifthe video should appear in connection ‘with any advertisements on Facebook's platform? For each review, please note the date and time shen the review wns convicted and the onteame (eg, was the video approved for ad breaks. boosting, ee) 3._ Did the original doctored video or copies ofthe doctored video serve as at any time (idl ads appear in the beginning, during or atthe end of the video), was the video ever boosted, was the ‘video ever delivered through any other form of advertisement, or did the video ever appear in ‘connection with any advertisements on Facebook's platform? Please speci. 44. Did Facebook generate any revenve directly or indirectly from the original video and copies of the video being posted on its platform? 5. On average, ftom the time content is posted on Facebook's platform, how long does it tke Facebook to flag suspicious content to thied-party fact-chockers,thid-partyfuct-checkers to review the content, and Facebook to take remedial actions after this review is completed? How long did each ofthese steps take inthe case of the doctored Pelosi video? 6. How many product managers does Facebook employ whose fl-time job it sto address disinformation, and how many third-party Tactcheekers (number af people) does Facebook retain whose primary responsibility it ist fact check content posted on Facebook? 7. What determines if content gets reviewed by third-party fact-checkers, and does Facebook equite third-party fact-checkers to abide by any’ standards or timeframes for eviewing content? 8, What steps is Facebook taking in advance of the 2020 election to stop the spread of political lisinformation by rea accounts on its platform? ‘Thank you for your attention and cooperation inthis matter. Sincerely, juile Pelle. FRANK PALLONE, JR. ” ‘Member of CongressqIKE DOYLE Member of Congress DIANA DEGETTE. SG Ae ‘Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress {A G. ESHOO ~ ELIOT L. ENGEL erat ces —— Bors Motu agCioriensn So aT renee ene fepes Member of Cbngress Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress