Facebook may have inadvertently illustrated Elizabeth Warren's point about the consolidation of power by tech giants like itself. The social media company removed numerous ads calling for the breakup of Facebook, Amazon, and Google, published Friday by Warren's presidential campaign. "They've bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field in their favor" resulting in "vast power over our economy and our democracy," read the identical ads, which directed users to sign a petition "to support our plan to break up these big tech companies," per Politico.
"Curious why I think FB has too much power? Let's start with their ability to shut down a debate over whether FB has too much power," tweeted Warren, who tells the Verge she also wants to see the breakup of Apple. Politico reports the ads were found to be "against Facebook's advertising policies," with a rep later claiming improper use of a modified Facebook logo, per CNN. "In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads," the rep said. That drew "thanks" from Warren on Monday. "But I want a social media marketplace that isn't dominated by a single censor," she said. Other Facebook ads about her tech plan, excluding the Facebook logo, were unaffected. (More on the plan here.)