Retail Excellence, Ireland’s largest retail representative body, has suspended its partnership with Facebook following the expose of practices and content moderation on their online platform by Channel 4 Dispatches program which aired last night.
The move comes as it emerged Facebook are set to be called before an Oireachtas Committee after an investigation found that the social network told staff not to remove violent content.
In a statement this morning Retail Excellence said they had partnered with Facebook to provide training to retailers to enhance their digital strategies through their platform and that the next Retail Excellence – Facebook training course was scheduled to take place next week.
The group also said Facebook were also expected to address delegates at Retail Excellence eCommerce Conference on September 19.
CEO of Retail Excellence, Lorraine Higgins, said that based on the revelations from Channel 4 Dispatches documentary last evening, the group have decided to suspend our partnership with Facebook until further notice.
“As a representative body which promotes standards of excellence among retailers it would be wrong for us to continue our partnership where they have fallen short. On that basis, we will not be working with Facebook until we are satisfied their policies have been overhauled regarding the posting of violent and abusive content for commercial gain”.
“We will not be commenting further,” the statement concluded.