Sheryl Sandberg asked Facebook staff to research George Soros because he was publicly critical of the social media company, reports the New York Times tonight.
After Davos, "in an email in January to senior communications and policy executives," Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg "asked Facebook's communications staff to research George Soros's financial interests in the wake of his high-profile attacks on tech companies."
If she was willing to do this over a mere billionaire, imagine what Facebook might have done in researching news organizations and reporters who are critical of Facebook?
Fb has defended the research into Soros as normal and prudent due diligence for a large public company under attack by a onetime activist investor.They note the later Definers research -- which they say Sandberg did *not* personally order -- was based on public records.
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) November 30, 2018
We'll add to this story as night goes. Sandberg email to Facebook executives came very soon after Soros's scathing speech at Davos attacking Facebook and Google.But company says other Fb employees had already begun the research when Sandberg wrote.
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) November 30, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: Sheryl Sandberg asked Facebook staff to research George Soros, said people with knowledge of her request, indicating she was directly involved in the company's response to the liberal billionaire's attacks @nickconfessore @AllMattNYT https://t.co/p6MMad4zUM
— Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) November 30, 2018
By Nicholas Confessore and Matthew Rosenberg at the New York Times:
Read the restSheryl Sandberg asked Facebook's communications staff to research George Soros's financial interests in the wake of his high-profile attacks on tech companies, according to three people with knowledge of her request, indicating that Facebook's second in command was directly involved in the social network's response to the liberal billionaire.
