CT Blue

So, it appears Facebook has been accused by some disgruntled ex-employees of liberal bias in its “trending news” section:

Many people were rightly disturbed earlier this week when Gizmodo revealed that Facebook employees allegedly suppressed conservative news stories on the whim of their employer’s political leanings. As alarming as that story is, a new congressional investigation into Facebook for those editorial choices is arguably worse.

Gizmodo’s Michael Nunez provoked a firestorm of criticism towards Facebook on Monday when he reported that a former Facebook staffer accused its news team of refusing to include conservative news outlets like Breitbart and RedState in its influential “trending news” section on the front page – which generates huge traffic for those outlets included. Even if you despise the likes of Breitbart and RedState, the idea of such a dominant corporation controlling what you do and don’t see online should alarm people of all political persuasions.

But now Republicans on the Senate commerce committee have opened an inquiry into Facebook’s editorial decisions, which encroaches on the first amendment in a way that represents a clear and present danger to their free speech.

via The Guardian

I have no idea whether there is any truth to this, but I disagree with the Guardian’s columnist. I think what I’m sure will be a strictly impartial investigation is very much in order, so long as it’s thorough, and doesn’t stop with Facebook. I’ve heard rumors that Fox News skews to the right. As hard as that must be to believe, there is enough evidence to warrant looking into it. The now Bezos-owned Washington Post has a thing about gutting social security and Medicare, and, quite possible (well, definitely, actually) has allowed its opinion to sink into what are purportedly news articles, besides featuring pundits who beat the drum for senior-impoverishment daily. (All of which is well documented by Dean Baker at Beat the Press). That, at least to me, gives off at least a whiff of bias, which likewise bears investigating. Then there’s the remote possibility (still worth looking into) that talk radio is dominated by the right.

Of course Facebook would be well within its rights to purposely inject liberal bias into its news feed. But since when has the constitution stood in the way of the Republican Party? So I’m all for an investigation; as long as it’s fair and balanced.