Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced an angry backlash from tech elites following the election of President Trump. Many claimed that Facebook enabled the spread of "fake news" which falsely maligned Hillary Clinton, harming her chances to win. Now, Zuckerberg has issued a 6,000-word letter that acknowledges Facebook's role in the recent election -- and takes a clear stand in support of immigration and globalization.
Made in America but now part of a global community
In "Building Global Community," Mark Zuckerberg takes direct aim against Trump's presumed anti-immigration stance. "History is the story of how we've learned to come together in ever greater numbers -- from tribes to cities to nations." He then states that "progress now requires humanity coming together not just as cities or nations, but also as a global community."
While many Silicon Valley CEOs have publicly stated a pro-immigration stance, and certainly operate a global enterprise, none have so forcefully made globalism a cornerstone of their business strategy the way Facebook has.
While Zuckerberg doesn't list any specific Trump policies by name, not even the recent travel ban, he does state that "in times like these, the most important thing we at Facebook can do is develop the social infrastructure to give people the power to build a global community that works for all of us."
Zuckerberg's vision for a global community may not be enough. In his letter he states that Facebook must build a "supportive," "safe," "informed," "civically-engaged," and "inclusive" community, but fails to specify how. Worse, he fails to define these terms adequately. How are users to be informed? Will Facebook prioritize the New York Times, for example, over competing for sources? Can the world be safe and inclusive when not everyone holds the same values?
President Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg is not new to politics or government involvement. Rumors continue to percolate that the Facebook CEO has presidential ambitions, at least in the distant future. In addition to his stance on globalization, Zuckerberg has long been a public proponent for immigration, particularly undocumented immigrants attending US colleges, and is no fan of the wall. He has also donated at least $100 million to K-12 public schools and announced the funding of a new school for children in East Palo Alto, California.