Zuckerberg hearing: Facebook CEO claims social network does not have a monopoly
The social network with 2.2 billion users has plenty of competition, Mr Zuckerberg says.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has told the US Congress that it "doesn't feel like" the social network has a monopoly.
Mr Zuckerberg made the remarks during his appearance before legislators as part of a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees, which is seeking answers in the wake of the data scandal surrounding Facebook and the UK data firm Cambridge Analytica.
Around 87 million Facebook users had their personal information improperly shared with the UK firm. The data was then used for the purpose of political profiling during the 2016 US presidential elections and the UK's EU referendum that same year.
When asked whether he thought that Facebook has a monopoly, Mr Zuckerberg replied: "It certainly doesn't feel like that to me."
Facebook has more than 2.2 billion users worldwide and dwarfs any other online social network.
Beyond its core social network business, Facebook and its various subsidiaries now have direct influence over almost half of all internet traffic.
A recent #DeleteFacebook campaign in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted the lack of significant competition to the social network, with platforms like Vero and Minds only serving a small fraction of the users that Facebook serves.
Privacy conscious users, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have already joined the campaign by removing themselves from the social network.
More than half a million people have also signed an online petition calling for Mr Zuckerberg to treat privacy more seriously.
Before the Facebook CEO took his seat before Congress, privacy advocates were already warning that his testimony would skirt around the social media giant's real issues.
Digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) tweeted a list of language to watch out for, and for lawmakers to pick Mr Zuckerberg up on. They include "bad actors," "idealistic and optimistic," and "hacking."
The EFF said: "Mark Zuckerberg will no doubt weave word games and roundabout language into his answers to Congress this week to distract from the real problem."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments