Conservatives, liberals slam Facebook bias audit

Facebook's audit of conservative claims of bias on the social network drew sharp criticism from both ends of the political spectrum on Tuesday, with a leading Republican calling it a whitewash and liberals saying it legitimizes unfounded allegations of anti-conservative censorship.

The eight-page interim report, authored by former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), doesn't come to a definitive conclusion about whether bias exists on the platform, but appears designed to quell mounting accusations by GOP leaders, including President Donald Trump, that the social network suppresses right-leaning views. Republicans have not offered evidence of systematic bias, but are pushing the claims with greater force heading into the 2020 election cycle.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has proposed subjecting internet companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter to a political neutrality test, called the effort "a smokescreen disguised as a solution."

"Facebook should conduct an actual audit by giving a trusted third party access to its algorithm, its key documents, and its content moderation protocols," Hawley said in a statement. "Then Facebook should release the results to the public.”

Brent Bozell, president of the conservative Media Research Center, said the report shows conservative complaints "fell on deaf ears" and said it "stunningly fails to admit fault or wrongdoing." Facebook's changes are "empty and insulting," he added.