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One Nation Under Facebook

While reshaping the Web in its own social imagine, Facebook has also been busy positioning itself as a friend of Washington, reports The New York Times. Indeed, "Facebook has layered its executive, legal, policy and communications ranks with high-powered politicos from both parties, beefing up its firepower for future battles in Washington and beyond," The Times reports.

There's Sheryl Sandberg, the former Clinton administration official who is now Facebook's chief operating officer. Then there's Ted Ullyot, a general counsel former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia who is now general counsel for the social network. Most recently, reports surfaced that Robert Gibbs, President Obama's former White House press secretary, might be joining Facebook's communications team.

Why does Facebook need so much political might? It's only "redefining the notion of privacy and transforming communications, media and advertising in the Internet age," The Times writes.

Read the whole story at The New York Times »

1 comment about "One Nation Under Facebook".
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  1. Craig Mcdaniel from Sweepstakes Today LLC, March 29, 2011 at 2:44 p.m.

    To answer your question why Facebook needs political hacks is Facebook in my opinion is cutting corners on state and federal laws. Here's the why and hows...

    I rarely run a sweepstakes or contest on Facebook that I don't get paid on. When there is a Facebook sweep, I get paid directly from the sponsor or their ad agency. Not Facebook themself.

    However from the legal side, Facebook is not requiring the rules and privacy page link to be shown and allowed to enter even before one becomes a member of Facebook and logins. In my opinion, having run over 30,000 high quality sweepstakes and contest, this violates nearly every state law. Especially dealing with minors, beer companies and strick state laws where eligibility comes into play.

    Many people read the rules first then decide whether or not to enter. No sponsor should require a person to join Facebook first before even being allow to read the rules or privacy agreement.

    Craig McDaniel, President
    Sweepstakes Today LLC

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