- Bill Gates said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg did a good job in front of Congress last week, but must now play a leading role in helping the world figure out data privacy.
- He said Facebook will be "glad" to take a business hit to help people "feel good" about their data.
- Regulation is coming, Gates said, but should be done in a "thoughtful" way.
Bill Gates has offered some reassuring words for embattled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg - but warned that the company must play a leading role in helping the world figure out data privacy.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme, the Microsoft co-founder said Zuckerberg is responding "as best he can" to the scandal, which saw 87 million US Facebook accounts scraped for data in 2014.
Transform talent with learning that worksCapability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More He described the CEO's congressional hearings last week as "a pretty strong mea culpa in terms of things they could have done better," adding that he did "quite a good job" under questioning from US lawmakers.
Leah Millis / Reuters
Mark Zuckerberg.
But now, Gates said Facebook must show it is taking a leading role in helping solve the issue of data protection online. "They are in the hot seat of some very state-of-the-art issues," he said. "As a leader, Facebook has got to help the world figure this out."
Asked what advice he would give Zuckerberg, Gates said: "This is his total focus now. He is somebody who takes a long-term view. He'll be glad to reduce the business' prospects, to make sure that the privacy promises make consumers feel good."
Gates: Regulation is coming
Gates was also philosophical about the prospect of greater government intervention in the tech sector.
"We will end up with more regulation," he told the BBC, highlighting areas where governments are already taking action, including on hate speech.
Regulation should be done in a "thoughtful way," he added, with "alignment between countries."
Next Story
I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
Mukesh Ambani’s JioCinema cuts subscription prices as India’s streaming war heats up
Data Analytics for Decision-Making
Experts warn of rising temperatures in Bengaluru as Phase 2 of Lok Sabha elections draws near
Axis Bank posts net profit of ₹7,129 cr in March quarter
7 Best tourist places to visit in Rishikesh in 2024
