FACEBOOK’S original co-founder is working with the US government to break up the social network, according to reports.
Chris Hughes, who shared a room with Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard, previously branded the CEO’s global power “un-American”.
In a damning article in May, Hughes, 35, said Facebook is a monopoly and called on US watchdogs to break it apart from subsidiaries like Instagram and WhatsApp.
And now Hughes, who left Facebook in 2007, is working alongside US regulators on a possible antitrust case, according to the New York Times.
Prominent antitrust academics, Scott Hemphill and Tim Wu, are also believed to have taken part in the discussions.
The group argues that Facebook has made “serial defensive acquisitions” to maintain its control over the market.
They believe this has allowed the company to hike up advertising prices while also lowering the quality of the user experience, according to The Times.
It is unclear the extent of Hughes’s role in the meetings with regulators.
But he could help investigators connect with current and former Facebook employees and competitors.
The revelation comes a day after Facebook revealed the Federal Trade Commission had opened an antitrust investigation into the company.
This comes hot on the heels of a record $5 billion privacy fine from the agency over its handling of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Facebook has been ordered to establish an independent privacy committee that Zuckerberg will not have control over.
US authorities have also started a probe into whether online platforms are unfairly restricting competition.
The Department of Justice said it has taken into account “widespread concerns” about the impact of social media, search engines and online retailers.
Makan Delrahim, the department’s chief antitrust officer, said: “Without the discipline of meaningful market-based competition, digital platforms may act in ways that are not responsive to consumer demands.
“The Department’s antitrust review will explore these important issues.”
Investigators are seeking information from the public – including those in the tech industry.
It marks a pivotal moment following months of concern in Congress and elsewhere over the sway of firms like Google, Facebook and Amazon.
In May, Hughes accused Facebook of being a monopoly and said the government must hold Zuckerberg accountable.
This was despite being recruited by Zuckerberg as early as 2002 to help build the world’s biggest social network.
Hughes said: “We are a nation with a tradition of reining in monopolies, no matter how well intentioned the leaders of these companies may be.
“Mark’s power is unprecedented and un-American. It is time to break up Facebook.”
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He also personally accused former pal Zuckerberg of leading the firm astray – with the help of rogue colleagues.
“Mark is a good, kind person. But I’m angry that his focus on growth led him to sacrifice security and civility for clicks,” Chris wrote.
“I’m worried that Mark has surrounded himself with a team that reinforces his beliefs instead of challenging them.”
Who is Chris Hughes?
Here's what you need to know...
- Chris Hughes is an American businessman who helped found Facebook
- A Harvard roommate of Facebook inventor Mark Zuckerberg, Chris served as a spokesman for the site
- He was also the publisher and editor of The New Republic between 2012 and 2016
- Chris was recruited by Zuckerberg in 2002, during his freshman year at Harvard
- Hughes was responsible for testing new Facebook features – and suggesting changes
- He left Facebook in 2007 to volunteer for Barack Obama’s successful 2008 presidential campaign
- Chris has an estimated net worth of around $430million USD (£330million)
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News Photo Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes working with US government to break up social network after branding Zuckerberg ‘un-American’
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