Zuckerberg of Meta reports that the company now employs 40,000 people to protect online elections
No internet firm is spending more on protecting elections online than the social media behemoth, Meta, which provides well-known programs like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This is despite the fact that worldwide elections will continue to dominate headlines in 2024.
According to the firm, it presently employs over 40,000 individuals globally to protect elections via internet means.
The massive social media company said that it has already spent over $20 billion on hiring personnel and developing technology to safeguard elections conducted virtually. This year’s general elections in South Africa are scheduled on May 29.
“We’ll activate a South Africa-specific Elections Operations Centre as the election draws near to identify potential threats and implement mitigations in real time,” a statement from Meta said.
According to the firm, it has the biggest fact-checking network in South Africa, with partners, and offers fact-checking services in English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Sotho, and Setswana. “To help prepare for the elections, we have been working directly with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC),” the business said.
According to the corporation, it has made it simpler for its South African fact-checking partners to “find and rate content related to the elections.” “To make it easier for fact-checkers to locate related content, we’ll use keyword detection to group it in one place.”
Meta plans to introduce its “Election Day Reminder” and “Voter Information Unit” capabilities on Facebook and Instagram before to election day.
