Zuckerberg apologises for dividing people

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says he's sorry that his work has been used to divide people, rather than unite them.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg says he's sorry Facebook has been used to divide, rather than unite people. (AAP)

Facebook founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has asked for forgiveness for the way his work is used to divide people.

He made the apology in a Facebook posting marking the end of Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement.

"For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better," Zuckerberg said in the post.

He did not refer to specific issues in the message, which comes as Facebook and other technology companies are under increased scrutiny amid a US investigation into potential Russian involvement in the 2016 US Presidential election campaign.

Facebook has launched an overhaul of how it handles paid political advertisements, after US lawmakers threatened to regulate the world's largest social network over secretive ads that run during election campaigns.


Share
Published 2 October 2017 11:30am
Updated 2 October 2017 12:11pm


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world