During the pandemic, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that senior Biden administration officials exerted pressure on Facebook to censor certain COVID-19 content. Zuckerberg stated that the officials, including those from the White House, persistently urged Facebook to remove specific COVID-19 content, including humor and satire. He mentioned that the government officials expressed frustration when Facebook did not comply with their demands.
In a letter addressed to Rep. Jim Jordan, Zuckerberg expressed regret over the government's pressure and acknowledged that Facebook should have been more vocal about the issue. He emphasized that the company would resist similar demands in the future.
Responding to Zuckerberg's claims, the White House emphasized the importance of tech companies considering the impact of their actions on the public while making independent decisions about the information they present.
Experts have raised concerns about the potential spread of misinformation on social media platforms during the upcoming U.S. election, fueled by the use of artificial intelligence and other tools to create false news stories.
Facebook took steps in early 2021 to combat misinformation by adding labels with credible information to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. The platform had previously warned users sharing misinformation about COVID-19 in April 2020.
Conservatives have criticized major tech companies, including Facebook, for allegedly favoring liberal priorities and engaging in censorship.
Zuckerberg has attempted to improve Facebook's standing among conservatives, including praising former President Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt. He announced that he would no longer donate funds through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to expand election access for voters, aiming to maintain neutrality and avoid any perception of bias.
In the 2020 presidential election, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $400 million to support local election offices in preparing for voters amidst the pandemic. Despite analyses indicating the neutrality of their contributions, Zuckerberg stated that he intends to refrain from making similar donations in the current election cycle.
