Sheryl Sandberg faces criticism over denial of Facebook’s role in violence at Capitol riots

Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg is facing criticism for denying the social media company’s role in the violence at the US Capitol despite groups like “Stop the Steal” with thousands of followers remaining active on the platform for months.

Sandberg, who is Facebook’s chief operating officer, came under fire after she said the Capitol insurrection was not “largely organised” on Facebook but on platforms that do not have the “ability to stop hate” like that of Facebook.

“I think these events were largely organised on platforms that don’t have our abilities to stop hate, and don’t have our standards and don’t have our transparency,” Ms Sandberg, the company's chief operating officer, told the Reuters Next conference on Monday.

Media Matters for America, a misinformation watchdog that has been monitoring Facebook, opposed Ms Sandberg’s comments and said the social media platform is trying to “deflect attention from Facebook and shift the blame to other platforms like Parler.” 

Parler is right-wing social media network mostly used by conservatives.

Facebook has been accused of allowing groups such as “Stop the Steal” to flourish on the platform with thousands of interactions that called for protests at the Capitol on 6 January. The protest ultimately descended into a mob attack that left five people dead and several injured.

According to Media Matters, there were 70 “Stop the Steal” groups active on Facebook as its executive denied the company’s role.

“If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilisation, then be prepared to accept barbarism,” a post by a member of “Red-State Secession” Facebook group said hours before the insurrection, according to The New York Times.

As Facebook continues to downplay its role in riots, Ali Alexander, a self-proclaimed organiser of the Capitol protest, openly posted threats for days nearing Joe Biden’s inauguration, reported Vice.

His account was suspended this week following hate-mongering posts.

Democrats too criticised Ms Sandberg for her “lies”.

"It’s amazing how effortlessly Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg can lie through her teeth," said Jon Cooper on Twitter, an ally of president-elect Joe Biden.

Rachel Cohen, communications director for Democratic senator Mark Warner, said Facebook’s stance is “demonstrably false”.

In a measure called too little and too late by watchdog Media Matter, Facebook on Monday said they will remove all the content with the phrase “stop the steal” to curb future violence and a rerun of 6 January riots.