Dozens of Zuckerberg-funded scientists attack Facebook over its stance on Trump posts

Dozens of scientists funded by Mark Zuckerberg have protested against his decision to leave inflammatory Donald Trump posts on the site. Mr Zuckerberg is allowing the president to use the social network to "spread both misinformation and incendiary statements", the researchers warn. Scientists, including 60 professors at leading US research institutions, wrote to the Facebook boss asking Mr Zuckerberg to "consider stricter policies on misinformation and incendiary language that harms people," especially during the current turmoil over racial injustice. The letter calls the spread of "deliberate misinformation and divisive language" contrary to the researchers' goals of using technology to prevent and eradicate disease, improve childhood education and reform the criminal justice system. Their mission "is antithetical to some of the stances that Facebook has been taking, so we're encouraging them to be more on the side of truth and on the right side of history as we've said in the letter," said Debora Marks of Harvard Medical School, one of three professors who organised it.