Harvard's Alleged Pressure from Facebook Donations Forces Out Disinformation Scholar

Former Harvard researcher Joan Donovan alleges that she was forced out of the university due to pressure from Facebook and its donations to Harvard. Donovan, a social media researcher focused on disinformation, claims that her criticism of Facebook's role in spreading harmful content led to her dismissal. She had presented her research findings to a group of wealthy donors, including a former Facebook executive, and later faced questioning from Harvard administrators about her comments on the company. Donovan believes that her departure was a result of her refusal to align with Facebook's narrative and her focus on the design of social media platforms as a source of problems. Harvard denies the allegations, stating that Donovan's employment status as a staff member and the need for faculty-led research projects were the reasons for her departure.