On 12th January 2021, Facebook announced the appointment of civil rights attorney Roy L. Austin Jr. as its new VP of Civil Rights. The main aim is to evolve its platform policies in order to maximize inclusion and representation across its apps. Austin will play a key role in providing knowledge and insight to help inform these approaches, which could be a significant step in improving Facebook’s approach.That could be particularly important in an algorithmic sense.
“Roy joins Facebook from the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, where he was a partner specializing in criminal defense and civil rights law. He brings with him over 25 years of experience working as both a civil rights lawyer and advocate, having begun his career as an honors trial attorney with the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice.” Explained by Facebook.
The Specialties of Mr Roy is in Criminal Justice and Civil Rights. Currently he is in partner with Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP. Austin is also a former White House advisor, who worked on President Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative, which looked to help address opportunity gaps faced by young people of color.
