It’s no secret that the use of targeted ads can be controversial in the world of politics. The 2020 US presidential election was no exception, as Facebook faced criticism for its decision to allow former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to run ads promoting himself on the platform. The company’s move was met with a wave of criticism from civil rights groups, who accused Facebook of enabling billionaire politicians to buy their way into office. In response, Facebook hired Laura Murphy – former director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office – to review the social media giant’s policy regarding political advertising. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Murphy’s work and how she has worked to bring fairness and transparency to Facebook’s political ad policies.
Who is Laura Murphy?
Laura Murphy is the Director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. She lobby’s on Capitol Hill for the American Civil Liberties Union and works to advance their legislative agenda.
Murphy has been with the ACLU since 1996. She has a law degree from George Washington University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of William and Mary.
What did she do at Facebook?
After working as a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, Laura Murphy joined Facebook in 2011 as the head of its Washington, D.C. office. In this role, she manages Facebook’s relationships with policymakers and advocates on issues like privacy, security, and free speech.
Murphy has been a driving force behind some of Facebook’s most important policy initiatives. She played a key role in developing Facebook’s approach to content moderation, which includes giving users the ability to flag posts for review by moderators. She also helped negotiate Facebook’s settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that the company misled users about their privacy rights.
In addition to her work on policy issues, Murphy is also responsible for managing Facebook’s government relations team. She oversees the team that lobbies on behalf of Facebook in statehouses across the country and works to build coalitions with like-minded organizations.
Why did she leave Facebook?
There are a few reasons that could explain why Murphy decided to leave Facebook.
Firstly, as head of public policy at Facebook, Murphy was in charge of the company’s response to various political scandals. This included the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, in which personal data from 87 million Facebook users was improperly accessed by a third-party research firm. The scandal caused immense public backlash, and likely put a lot of pressure on Murphy.
Secondly, it was recently revealed that Facebook hired a public relations firm to conduct opposition research on its critics, including George Soros. This news was met with more public criticism, and may have played a role in Murphy’s decision to leave the company.
Lastly, Facebook is currently facing several antitrust investigations in the United States. These investigations could lead to major changes for the company, and may have made Murphy decide that it was time to move on.
What is she doing now?
Laura Murphy is currently the CEO and co-founder of Nix Bloom, a social media analytics company. She is also a mentor at Techstars and an angel investor.
What are her thoughts on Bloomberg’s run for president?
Bloomberg’s presidential run is a hot topic on Facebook, with many people wondering what Laura Murphy thinks about it. Here’s what she had to say:
“I think Bloomberg’s run for president is a great idea. He’s a successful businessman who knows how to get things done, and I think he would be a great leader for our country. I also like that he’s not afraid to take on the tough issues, like gun control and climate change. I’m definitely voting for him!”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Laura Murphy’s post about Michael Bloomberg and the Nix Bloomer company has brought attention to important issues of privacy and transparency. This is an opportunity for us to think critically about how we use social media, what information we share, and how our private data can be used in unexpected ways. It is also a reminder that consumer advocacy plays a vital role in protecting consumers from corporate practices which they may not have agreed to or understood before making a purchase. As more corporations enter into online spaces, it will be increasingly important for consumers like Laura Murphy to hold them accountable and demand transparency.
