Facebook can't hide behind algorithms

Then on Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg said he was handing over details of more than 3,000 advertisements bought by groups with links to the Kremlin, a move made possible by the advertising algorithms that have made Mr Zuckerberg a multi-billionaire. Gross misconduct, you might say - but of course you cant sack the algorithm. And besides, it was only doing what it was told. The algorithms are working exactly as they were designed to work, says Siva Vaidhyanathan, professor of media studies at the University of Virginia. Which is what makes this controversy so extremely difficult to solve - a crisis that is a direct hit to the core business of the worlds biggest social network.