Facebook CEO, EC Urge More Collaboration Amid Coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic could change the relationship between governments and platforms, said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton on a Monday virtual debate. Everyone is trying to figure out the situation, which requires more public-private…
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sector cooperation, said Zuckerberg. Breton actively contacted platforms to see how they could help fight COVID-19 disinformation and keep networks running, Zuckerberg said. Facebook and others worked quickly to reduce bandwidth to ensure people could stay connected. Breton said he has learned it's important to "anticipate." Telecom networks weren't designed for a situation where everyone was living, working and learning at home. But frank discussions with Facebook, Netflix and other platforms resulted in fast reaction as both parties worked to cope. Asked how they see their respective roles in the pandemic exit and recovery stages, Breton said Europe is focused on a "green deal" and on teleworking. Ensuring people have access to accurate information in the health crisis is important, said Zuckerberg. The EU learned "we have to invent together our future," said Breton. Platforms must learn to cooperate with administrations, he said: It's not governments that should adapt to platforms but the reverse. The European Commission is working on prior regulation of platforms as it has enacted for telcos, he said: The less regulation needed the better, but if platforms and governments can't find a way to cooperate, the EC "will regulate, of course." Asked about the need for a digital deal between governments and platforms, Zuckerberg advocated a broader partnership, saying platforms shouldn't be left to govern themselves, and such a deal is "inevitable," including regulation. But he voiced concern about whose regulatory framework will win globally. Countries like China have different values from democratic nations, and some other governments are considering this model, with localized data and less respect for human rights. That model is dangerous, he said; the best antidote is regulation that comes from democracies. The right kind of framework requires clear and strong values, which Europe has, said Breton. Platforms must understand those values to help build a new form of governance, which won't happen overnight, he said.