Ex-Facebook exec recommends Zuckerberg step down as CEO

FILE - In this March 29, 2018 file photo, the logo for social media giant Facebook, appears on screens at the Nasdaq MarketSite, in New York's Times Square. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Facebook's former security chief is disagreeing with calls to break up the social network.

Instead, Alex Stamos believes the way to fix problems is for Mark Zuckerberg to step aside as CEO.

Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and other critics contend that government regulators should require Facebook to spin off popular services such as Instagram and WhatsApp.

But Stamos believes that just creates "three companies that have the same fundamental problems."

Facebook has been grabbling with such problems as privacy, fake news and hate speech.

Zuckerberg remains the company's controlling shareholder, making it unlikely he will be replaced without his consent.

Stamos left Facebook last year as the company dealt with fallout from bogus information spread on its social network. He spoke this week at a technology conference in Toronto.