Break Up Facebook? Co-Founder’s Stunning Call to Action Stirs Global Debate


 

Chris Hughes helped Mark Zuckerberg transform Facebook from a dorm-room project into a real business. Now, he’s calling for the company to be broken up.

In a lengthy opinion piece published Thursday by the New York Times, Hughes says that Zuckerberg has “unchecked power” and influence “far beyond that of anyone else in the private sector or in government.”

It’s time, he writes, for regulators to break up Facebook.

“Mark is a good, kind person. But I’m angry that his focus on growth led him to sacrifice security and civility for clicks,” writes Hughes.

“I’m disappointed in myself and the early Facebook team for not thinking more about how the News Feed algorithm could change our culture, influence elections and empower nationalist leaders,” he continues. “And I’m worried that Mark has surrounded himself with a team that reinforces his beliefs instead of challenging them.”

Hughes is the latest in a series of prominent entrepreneurs and tech executives to call for stricter regulation of Facebook and other online platforms. They are speaking out as countries around the world rush to put better controls in place following a wave of scandals related to data privacy, election meddling and the spread of misinformation.

Zuckerberg has signaled that he’s open to some regulation. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post in March, the CEO tried to sketch out areas where he thought regulation should start.

In Hughes view, Facebook’s calls for regulation are a way to head off a potential antitrust case.

Hughes, who has not worked at Facebook in over a decade, argues that Zuckerberg’s competitive drive and quest for domination has led the company to control an estimated 80% of the world’s social network revenue.

The entrepreneur says that Facebook is now a “powerful monopoly” that should be forced to reverse its acquisitions of Instagram and Whatsapp.

Hughes also says the US government should create a new agency to regulate tech companies.

“[Zuckerberg] has created a leviathan that crowds out entrepreneurship and restricts consumer choice. It’s on our government to ensure that we never lose the magic of the invisible hand,” Hughes writes.

Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president of global affairs and communications, said in a statement that accountability “can only be achieved through the painstaking introduction of new rules for the internet.”

“Facebook accepts that with success comes accountability,” he said. “But you don’t enforce accountability by calling for the breakup of a successful American company.”

Related Posts

Rodeo Star Chance Englebert Missing Six Years Found Dead in Nebraska Badlands, Investigation Considers Possible Foul Play 🏜️😱

Imagine this: A stormy summer night in the heart of the American West, where thunder cracks like a bullwhip and rain lashes the earth like an unforgiving…

Mother Outraged After Daughter Anna Kepner Murdered on Carnival Cruise, Blaming Tragic Cabin Arrangement with Stepson 😡🚢

In the sun-drenched glamour of a Caribbean cruise, where turquoise waves lap against colossal ships promising escape and family bonding, tragedy struck with the ferocity of a…

Chicago commuters horrified when attacker shouted ‘burn alive, bitch’ on Blue Line spreads fear and outrage among commuters. ⚠️🚇

A routine Monday morning commute on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line turned into a scene of unimaginable horror when a 26-year-old woman was deliberately set on…

SHOCKING FINAL STEP in Lilly & Jack Missing Case: Police Ignored Clues for 6 Months – Then a Rusty Bucket Reveals a Tiny Shoe That Ruins the Official Story!

In the misty woods of Nova Scotia’s Pictou County, where the Gairloch River whispers through dense evergreens, the disappearance of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan remains one…

Vera Fans Go Wild: Brenda Blethyn’s Cryptic Tease Sparks Nationwide Frenzy—Is the Iconic Detective’s Epic Return Finally Here?

The sleepy Northumberland countryside, long synonymous with gritty murders and unyielding determination, is buzzing with electric anticipation. It’s been nearly a year since ITV’s beloved crime drama…

Jungle Heartbreak: Ruby Wax’s Hidden Horror Injury Shatters I’m A Celeb Dreams – Fans Devastated as Legend’s Agony Forces Tearful Exit!

In the sweltering heat of Australia’s unforgiving outback, the 2025 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has delivered its most gut-wrenching twist yet:…