Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, claimed that the Biden administration pressured his company to censor specific COVID-19 content on Facebook. In a letter addressed to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg expressed regret over Meta’s response to these pressures, revealing that the White House and other senior officials had expressed frustration when Meta did not comply with their demands to censor certain content, including humor and satire.
The letter, confirming the authenticity by a Meta spokesperson to CNBC, was made public via the committee’s Facebook and X social media accounts. Zuckerberg stated that although it was ultimately Meta’s decision to remove content, he now views the government’s pressure as inappropriate and regrets not being more vocal about it at the time.
In response, the White House defended its actions to Politico, emphasizing that during a deadly pandemic, it was prudent to encourage responsible public health measures. It reiterated its stance that while tech companies should act independently, they must consider the impact of their actions on the public.
Zuckerberg reflected on the decisions made, suggesting that with hindsight, some actions taken by Meta would not be repeated. He affirmed his commitment to upholding content standards without yielding to governmental pressures, asserting readiness to resist similar situations in the future.
In 2021, Meta removed over 20 million posts related to COVID-19 across Facebook and Instagram for violating its content guidelines. This action followed criticisms from the White House regarding the spread of misinformation on social platforms.
Zuckerberg also touched on his political neutrality, mentioning his past contributions through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to electoral infrastructure, but stating his intention to refrain from such activities in future elections to maintain a neutral stance. This statement comes amidst ongoing debates over the role of tech companies in content moderation and the balance between government influence and corporate independence.
