Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday deplored the Biden administration’s “pressure” to “censor” some COVID-19-related content in 2021, statements welcomed by Republican opposition. The social media giant vowed it would retaliate if it faced such demands again.
In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, made public by Republican members of the committee, Zuckerberg alleges that officials, including those in the White House, “repeatedly pressured” Facebook for months to remove “certain COVID-19-related content, including humor and satire.”
Officials “expressed a great deal of frustration” when the company did not agree, he said in the letter.
“I believe the government’s pressure was unwarranted and regret that we were not more forthcoming about it,” Zuckerberg wrote in an Aug. 26 letter posted on the commission’s Facebook page and his account on the social network X.
The letter is the latest rebuke from Zuckerberg over efforts to target misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were wrongly removed or restricted.
“I also think we made choices that, with hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today,” he said, without elaborating. “We’re prepared to respond if something like this happens again.”
In response, the White House said in a statement that “in the face of a deadly pandemic, this administration has encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety.”
“Our position has been clear and consistent: We believe that technology companies and other private actors must consider the effects of their actions on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present,” the document reads.
Disinformation and the presidential election
Experts warn that this year’s US elections could be overwhelmed by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce fake news and content that could mislead voters.
In early 2021, Facebook added what Zuckerberg described as “credible information” labels to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. In April 2020, as the virus led to factory shutdowns around the world and drastic changes to daily life, Facebook decided to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19.
Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other big tech companies for favoring the liberal agenda and accused them of censorship.
Mr Zuckerberg tried to change the American right’s perception of the company by appearing on host Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2022 and complimenting Republican candidate Donald Trump’s response to the July 13 assassination attempt as “a badass “He sent Monday’s letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Mr. Jordan, is a longtime ally of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate to expand voter access through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that manages philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
The couple has already donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for the 2020 presidential election, with the funds going toward protective gear to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at polling places, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail-in ballots.
“I know some people think this work benefited one party over the other,” despite analysis showing otherwise, he said.
“My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another – or even appear to play a role. So I don’t intend to make a similar contribution this election cycle.”