The scammers also used an extra level of sophistication, as they were able to put their fake texts alongside legitimate messages from the likes of AIB and Bank of Ireland. The devil is in Facebook data Facebook whistleblower Frances Hogan highlights the social media company's practices But it was an attack of a different kind that sparked a year of controversy for social media giant Facebook. While all social media platforms have been grappling with the 'fake news' problem for years now, Covid-19 has underlined the 'life or death' nature of their efforts. And in 2021, the biggest platform of them all faced detailed accusations of failing to stem the flow of misinformation. Frances Haugen, a former employee turned whistleblower, claimed that after the 2020 US presidential election, the company shut down special systems designed to curb misinformation and abuse on its platform. She said it helped fuel madness Riots at the US Capitol on January 6.