The Military Origins of Facebook (unlimitedhangout.com)
Overview & Context
In April 2021, Whitney Webb uncovers the little-known military and intelligence provenance of Facebook, tracing its roots back to DARPA-backed projects and connections to U.S. defense agencies.
🔍 Core Insights
- Facebook’s technology was initially developed through DARPA and intelligence-contractor funding, intended for government data and surveillance applications.
- Many of its early developers and architects had deep ties to U.S. military-industrial institutions, foreshadowing its role in surveillance capitalism.
- The report traces how this tech-to-state lineage laid the groundwork for using Facebook’s systems in public opinion management and behavioral influence operations.
🧠Why It Matters
- Reveals Facebook isn’t just a social platform—it’s an outgrowth of empire tech with embedded state functions.
- Highlights growing concerns over data privacy, algorithmic governance, and Facebook’s influence on politics and global information flows.
- Frames Facebook as part of a broader gov‑corp technate ecosystem, where tech platforms and public-sector powers co-evolve.
đź“š Citation
Webb, W. (2021, April). The Military Origins of Facebook. Unlimited Hangout. Retrieved from https://unlimitedhangout.com/2021/04/investigative-reports/the-military-origins-of-facebook/
Summary generated by ChatGPT (GPT‑4).