Mark Zuckerberg explains why Facebook activated Safety Check after Paris attacks, not Beirut
When terrorists attacked multiple locations in Paris Friday, Facebook turned on a Safety Check, a feature that allows those near a disaster to let friends and family know they’re safe.
Following the feature’s activation, the company received harsh criticism on social media from many wondering why the option was available for Paris, but was not offered in other places, such as Beirut where a bombing last week claimed more than 40 lives.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg addressed these concerns Saturday in a comment on his page, explaining that the site decided to adjust the Safety Check policy to expand the type of incidents it covers.
“Until yesterday, our policy was to activate Safety Check for natural disasters,’’ Zuckerberg wrote. “We just changed this and now plan to activate Safety Check for more human disasters going forward as well.’’
Facebook began work on the Safety Check feature following the Tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster that struck Japan in 2011, and first made it available to users last year. Friday marked the first time the site deployed the tool for something other than a natural disaster, according to Zuckerberg.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with questions and concerns about this. You are right that there are many other important conflicts in the world,’’ he wrote. “We care about all people equally, and we will work hard to help people suffering in as many of these situations as we can.’’
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