Facebook would probably wish it had a delete option for its timeline, now that it is threatening a TV show with a lawsuit to damage its reputation.
Doomsday Machine, the television adaptation of An Ugly Truth is coming soon. This book exposes Facebook's mistakes on issues such as misinformation, hate speech and user security. Claire Foy will play Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's COO. The drama will also tackle misinformation in the 2016 election and recent controversies such as the XCheck program that allowed celebrities and high-profile people to bypass content moderation.
Facebook threatens Anonymous Content producers with a lawsuit (via Deadline). Deadline reports that Mathew Rosengart (the same lawyer who freed Spears from conservatorship) wrote Dawn Olmstead a letter outlining the legal action Facebook may take if false or exaggerated statements about Anonymous Content are made.
Facebook will pursue all legal actions
Deadline received a letter from Rosengart stating that the First Amendment doesn't protect knowingly false statements and portrayals, or those made with reckless disregard of the truth about public figures.
Rosengart then attacks the accuracy of An Ugly Truth, pointing out that it is full of false and defamatory statements and characterizations. This also has implications for Facebook's leadership.
Rosengart mentioned that Facebook would be willing to work with Anonymous Content in order to make sure that the series is truthful and accurate. The Verge reached out anonymous content for a statement but has not heard back.
Facebook may be exaggerating, but it is impossible to know until the series premieres and Facebook finds something that it likes. Facebook may be trying to get into the plaintiffs seat at this point, given its long history of being on the opposing side of lawsuits.
