<p class="title">Facebook has said that has hired a high-ranking US State Department lawyer credited with helping craft the controversial Patriot Act as the social network's new general counsel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jennifer Newstead will replace Colin Stretch, who announced in July that he planned to leave Facebook.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Newstead will oversee global legal functions at the California-based social network as it faces continued pressure from regulators regarding how well it safeguards user privacy and protects against the spread of misinformation or abuse on its platform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Jennifer is a seasoned leader whose global perspective and experience will help us fulfill our mission," Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said in a statement on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are also truly grateful to Colin for his dedicated leadership and wise counsel over the past nine years."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Newstead was the first woman to lead the Office of the Legal Adviser at the State Department, a post she took in January 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Her expertise and sharp judgment on an array of critical foreign policy issues will be greatly missed," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I thank her for her outstanding service, and wish her all the best in the next phase of her career."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Previous government posts held by Newstead include being a lawyer under the administration of President George W. Bush and helping draft the Patriot Act, a counterterrorism law that dramatically expanded police and surveillance powers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm excited to be joining Facebook at an important time," Newstead said in an online post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am looking forward to working with the team and outside experts and regulators on a range of legal issues as we seek to uphold our responsibilities and shared values."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Facebook also announced that John Pinette has been hired at the social network's new vice president of global communications, succeeding Caryn Marooney.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pinette has a lengthy history in the technology sector, most recently Vulcan Inc, an organization overseeing business and philanthropic endeavors for the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"John's deep understanding of the technology industry and his experience leading communications teams will be invaluable to helping us communicate the work we do at Facebook every day," Sandberg said.</p>
<p class="title">Facebook has said that has hired a high-ranking US State Department lawyer credited with helping craft the controversial Patriot Act as the social network's new general counsel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jennifer Newstead will replace Colin Stretch, who announced in July that he planned to leave Facebook.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Newstead will oversee global legal functions at the California-based social network as it faces continued pressure from regulators regarding how well it safeguards user privacy and protects against the spread of misinformation or abuse on its platform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Jennifer is a seasoned leader whose global perspective and experience will help us fulfill our mission," Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said in a statement on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are also truly grateful to Colin for his dedicated leadership and wise counsel over the past nine years."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Newstead was the first woman to lead the Office of the Legal Adviser at the State Department, a post she took in January 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Her expertise and sharp judgment on an array of critical foreign policy issues will be greatly missed," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I thank her for her outstanding service, and wish her all the best in the next phase of her career."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Previous government posts held by Newstead include being a lawyer under the administration of President George W. Bush and helping draft the Patriot Act, a counterterrorism law that dramatically expanded police and surveillance powers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm excited to be joining Facebook at an important time," Newstead said in an online post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I am looking forward to working with the team and outside experts and regulators on a range of legal issues as we seek to uphold our responsibilities and shared values."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Facebook also announced that John Pinette has been hired at the social network's new vice president of global communications, succeeding Caryn Marooney.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pinette has a lengthy history in the technology sector, most recently Vulcan Inc, an organization overseeing business and philanthropic endeavors for the estate of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"John's deep understanding of the technology industry and his experience leading communications teams will be invaluable to helping us communicate the work we do at Facebook every day," Sandberg said.</p>