I was a very early Facebook user, long before they opened for public registration. Boy, at the time I never would have guessed that they might be the specific tool used to decimate Democracy, local news, and free reporting around the world.

If you work for Facebook in anything other than an influential legal or policy position where your entire *purpose* is to make change, I really don’t know what to tell you. I’m disappointed in you. We could help you find another infosec job.

The sad thing the last 10 years have taught us is how much easier social media and big data made it to become a cult leader. Lots of people are susceptible to addiction and conspiracy theories, there just wasn’t a great way to efficiently reach them in huge numbers, before.

Idle late night trolling has grown into massive, irrational conspiracy theories that we hear daily from family and which threaten the very survival of the USA and UK. Our adversaries have learned from this and wield it well. Things are truly dark.

The incredibly sad truth is that a lot of people are poorly educated despite our national wealth, and/or lack basic critical thinking skills. They have become addicted to being told they’re in on a secret, and that they’re the victims, and that they’re part of the winning group.

The work to repair the damage of years of disinformation is an unfathomable task, but I firmly believe first steps and heavy responsibility *right now* lie squarely on social media magnates, and their employees and investors. Journalists share some as well. This isn’t status quo.

The reality *right now* is that millions of citizens are being purposefully manipulated (for various reasons) into supporting an actual coup that would destroy the fabric of our constitution. The legitimacy of our government is in jeopardy.

Even though this is very unlikely to be successful due to ham handed attempts, the next person to try will be much better prepared and likely much more competent.

So yes, I will shout this from the rooftops. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube employees- what happens in the next 70 days, the next year, the next 10 years? All but your very richest execs will actually have to *live* in that world. You are culpable. You will have to live with it.