Facebook is set to start training people in digital skill starting today, 22nd January, 2018.
As part of this initiative, three new centers will be opened in Europe where the training will take place.
Facebook is however, committed to training one million people over the next two years, part of the social media giant’s drive to show its contribution to the bloc.
The U.S. company, which has faced regulatory pressure in Europe over issues ranging from privacy to antitrust said it would open three “community skills hubs” in Spain, Poland and Italy.
As well as invest 10 million euros ($12.2 million) in France through its artificial intelligence research facility.
“People are worried that the digital revolution is leaving people behind and we want to make sure that we’re investing in digital skills to get people the skills they need to fully participate in the digital economy,” Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg said.
The community hubs according to her, will offer training in digital skills, media literacy and online safety to groups with limited access to technology, including old people, the young and refugees.
“Absolutely we want to make sure that people see that we are investing locally, we’re investing in technology, we’re investing in humans,” she said.
Facebook executives are also, fanning out across Europe this week to address the social media giant’s slow response to abuses on its platform.
Through its Community Boost EU program, Facebook will work with small businesses and start-ups to help them grow and hire.
It said, it would conduct in-person training for 100,000 small- and medium-sized businesses by 2020 and online training for 250,000 businesses.
“What we’re finding is when small businesses use technology, when small businesses use Facebook, they hire,” Sandberg said.
The European Union’s executive has stressed the need to boost Europeans’ digital skills to help bring down unemployment and enable Europe to create its own digital giant.
Facebook has opened similar centers in countries such as Nigeria and Brazil.
