Facebook has had a horrible week but is trying to fix it before the cancel culture grabs it by the ankles. A BBC investigation earlier this year revealed the sale of plots of rainforest lands within conservation areas in the Amazon on Facebook's classified ads service. Now, the company doesn't want to have those on its platforms anymore.
Could it be the 'Facebook is all about its own profit and growth and none about societal good' nudge that had it care a bit more? Yup. The company said it will 'review listings at its online Marketplace against an authoritative database of protected areas to identify and block listings for sales of land there,' though only those within conservation areas in the Amazon. Soon after, Google jumped on the bandwagon too.
Along with its platforms, mainly YouTube, Google won't tolerate ads relating to 'climate change as a hoax or a scam' or denials that 'greenhouse gas emissions or human activity contribute to climate change.' There has been no mention of uploaded content linked to these matters. Many of Google's advertising and publisher partners aren't happy with such misinformation-filled ads being placed next to theirs. With the Glasgow summit on climate change happening end of this month, Big Tech is trying to scrub off some of its sins.