Freedom for Facebook used social network’s tools against in ads

Whistleblowers wanted: Activists launch ad campaign on Facebook that asks the platform’s own employees to leak incriminating information

  • Sponsored ads target Facebook employees who list social network as employer
  • Ad asks those ‘worried about what’s happening inside Facebook’ to speak out
  • Employees can submit tips ‘anonymously’ through website or encrypted email

An opposition group has launched an ad campaign on Facebook asking the social network’s own employees to come forward with tips.

Freedom From Facebook, a group campaigning for stricter regulations on social media, launched the ads this week in an attempt to get Facebook’s employees to leak incriminating information.

The advertisement read: ‘Are you worried about what’s happening inside Facebook? 

‘Share your concerns confidentially and anonymously.’

It comes after Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told employees during an hour-long question-and-answer session on Friday that he would not hesitate to fire anyone who spoke to the media.  

Freedom From Facebook launched the ads this week in an attempt to get Facebook’s employees to leak information

The advert was put in place to ‘offer Facebook employees who feel uncomfortable with recent events to voice their concerns,’ NBC News reported.

Carli Kientzle, a spokesperson for the group, confirmed they were able to target potential whistleblowers using profile information from those who listed Facebook as their employer.


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Employees who then see the advertisement will be able to ‘anonymously’ send information to Freedom From Facebook through the group’s website or an encrypted email address. 

It is, however, unknown whether or not the social media giant has been controlling who can see the sponsored advertisement.

The sponsored advert was put in place to ‘offer Facebook employees who feel uncomfortable with recent events to voice their concerns’ (file photo)

It comes after Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told employees during an hour-long question-and-answer session on Friday that he would not hesitate to fire anyone who spoke to the media, the New York Times reported. 

Freedom From Facebook has also recently clashed with the social network following a report revealing Facebook had hired a public relations firm to discredit its critics. 

Facebook admitted on Wednesday that a top executive had hired the firm, Definers Public Affairs, to attack George Soros and undermine critics by publicizing their relationship with the billionaire philanthropist.

Definers Public Affairs sent documents to the media linking Mr Soros to Freedom from Facebook through Colours of Change, a nonprofit that backs the opposition group and is funded by the billionaire.

Facebook has since announced it has terminated its relationship with the firm – with Zuckerberg and the company’s chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg admitting they should have known more about its operations.  

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