PO Box 130
West Shokan, NY 12494September 18, 2019
The President
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Recent allegations* concerning
interference in American elections by Facebook and Google suggest that they may
have violated and may plan to violate various sections of election law. For
example, political advertisers are required to disclose the person or
organization responsible for political advertising, yet Facebook does not
disclose itself as a source of political advertising. As well, Google's slanted search results are
undisclosed political advertising.
Recently, editor-in-chief of Psychology Today Dr. Robert
Epstein testified that Google and Facebook have manipulated elections. This is more extreme than election advertising,
but it can be subsumed under its rubric.
I urge the Justice Department to
investigate and if violations are found to criminally prosecute Facebook and
Google management, including Messrs. Zuckerberg, Brin, and Page, if there is
evidence of failure to comply with federal election law.
As well, because the two tech
firms pose a threat to American democracy, shuttering and sequestering their
sites prior to upcoming elections may be appropriate. Facebook in general may have deleterious
effects on American society. While Google's technology is better than its
competitors', the harm from its ham-handed and possibly criminal actions exceeds
the limited social benefits from its technology.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Langbert, Ph.D.
*This letter also was sent via
the Internet
Cc: The Honorable William P. Barr, Attorney General
Ms. Ellen West, Vice President of Communications and Public
Affairs, GoogleMs. Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook
