The NAACP organized a boycott of Facebook and Facebook-owned platforms Instagram and WhatsApp, Tuesday, receiving support from Amy Schumer and ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s.
“NAACP has returned a monetary donation we recently received from Facebook, and we are calling on supporters to log out of Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, December 18,” posted the NAACP on Twitter. “We implore you, our partners, friends, and supporters to join us. #LogOutFacebook.”
NAACP has returned a monetary donation we recently received from Facebook, and we are calling on supporters to log out of Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, December 18. We implore you, our partners, friends, and supporters to join us. #LogOutFacebook pic.twitter.com/tOBKhnbRTW
— NAACP (@NAACP) December 17, 2018
#LogoutFacebook also means #LogOutInstagram and #LogOutWhatsApp
— NAACP (@NAACP) December 18, 2018
In a press release, the NAACP claimed the protest was “in response to the tech company’s history of data hacks which unfairly target its users of color.”
“NAACP is also calling on Congress to conduct further investigations on Facebook after a report released for the Senate Intelligence Committee revealed that the Russian influence campaign ‘made an extraordinary effort to target African-Americans.’ Over the last year, NAACP has expressed concerns about the numerous data breaches and privacy mishaps in which Facebook has been implicated,” the organization stated. “And since the onset of the Silicon Valley boom, the organization has been openly critical about the lack of employee diversity among the top technology firms in the country. Recent revelations that Facebook hired an opposition research firm and its work with other deeply partisan strategy firms call into question the notion that Facebook operates with a non-partisan view.”
“NAACP has returned a donation it recently received from Facebook and will lead a #LogOut of Facebook and Instagram for one week, starting on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The organization is asking its partners, social media followers, and supporters to do the same,” the NAACP continued, adding, “The #LogOutFacebook is a protest – a way to signify to Facebook that the data and privacy of its users of color matter more than its corporate interests and that as the largest social network in the world, it is Facebook’s corporate social responsibility to ensure that people of color are well represented in their workforce and recognize that users of color have a right to be protected propaganda and misinformation.
In a statement, NAACP President Derrick Johnson proclaimed, “Facebook’s engagement with partisan firms, its targeting of political opponents, the spread of misinformation and the utilization of Facebook for propaganda promoting disingenuous portrayals of the African American community is reprehensible.”
The protest received support from actress and comedian Amy Schumer, environmental organization Sierra Club, ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry’s, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Million Hoodies, Muslim Advocates, and progressive nonprofit People for the American Way.
In Solidarity to the @naacp I won’t be on Instagram tomorrow and won’t be on Facebook for a week. Please join me https://t.co/R591ogJ7Ky
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) December 18, 2018
We also chose to #LogOutFacebook and #LogOutInstagram in solidarity. https://t.co/7LGzyljDcV
— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) December 18, 2018
For 109 years, the @NAACP has fought for justice and fairness. We stand in solidarity with its values and will #LogOutFacebook today. https://t.co/k4zsUWXQlk
— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) December 18, 2018
We're with you. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿#LogOutFacebook https://t.co/HWwp8Lc8hx
— The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) December 18, 2018
We're proud to join @MuslimAdvocates, @UNITEDWEDREAM, @NAACP, @MoveOn, @MPower_Change and others to demand accountability from Facebook. Read our letter https://t.co/xVukKMJtLz #ReformFacebook https://t.co/wzVTcojiLK
— Million Hoodies (@MillionHoodies) December 18, 2018
.@facebook has become an organizing tool for hate groups across the world. Despite voicing our concerns, Zuckerberg and his board continues to look the other way. We’ve had enough.
Read our letter demanding changes: https://t.co/jPzf3rDHr4
#ReformFacebook #LogOutFacebook pic.twitter.com/AyJfLAJ5sM— Muslim Advocates (@MuslimAdvocates) December 18, 2018
Russian operatives used @Facebook & @Instagram to specifically target African Americans during the 2016 election.
Facebook must be held accountable for this gross injustice. Join us and @NAACP to #LogOutFacebook and #LogOutInstagram: https://t.co/Glnt7qi7gq pic.twitter.com/4Ohj1y5R3j
— PFAW (@peoplefor) December 18, 2018
not just today…gone. see ya. forever. #LogOutFacebook
— Karen Hunter (@karenhunter) December 18, 2018
Charlie Nash is a reporter for Breitbart Tech. You can follow him on Twitter @MrNashington, or like his page at Facebook.
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