Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that the Biden administration pressured Facebook to censor specific COVID-19 content in 2021. In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Zuckerberg detailed how senior officials from the administration repeatedly urged Facebook to remove posts, including those that featured humor and satire about the pandemic.
Zuckerberg acknowledged the pressure, calling it “wrong,” and expressed regret that Facebook did not more forcefully resist it at the time. He emphasized that while Facebook made its own content moderation decisions, the influence of government officials was substantial. Reflecting on the situation, Zuckerberg noted that some of the choices made under pressure would not be repeated today.
This revelation comes as social media platforms face increasing scrutiny, especially with the U.S. presidential election approaching, and concerns over misinformation and content moderation intensify. Zuckerberg’s letter also addressed Facebook’s handling of a controversial New York Post story about Hunter Biden, which was temporarily suppressed based on an FBI warning of potential Russian disinformation. Zuckerberg admitted that this decision was a mistake and outlined changes in Facebook’s policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Additionally, Zuckerberg clarified that Meta would not repeat its previous efforts to fund election infrastructure, which had been criticized for appearing partisan. He reiterated his commitment to maintaining neutrality in the upcoming election.
The letter has been embraced by some Republicans as a victory for free speech, amid ongoing debates about social media censorship and the suppression of conservative views.
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