A top Republican senator, Sen. Joni Ernst, has accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook, of engaging in 'shadow-banning' and removing social media posts related to the U.S. military. In a letter addressed to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Ernst demanded answers regarding the alleged suppression of military-related content on the platform.
The accusations stem from a 2022 report that highlighted Meta's practice of 'deamplifying' certain Facebook and Instagram content deemed 'borderline' or 'problematic.' Ernst expressed concerns that posts featuring the U.S. Armed Services, including images of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, were being unfairly restricted in reach and visibility.
Ernst, who serves as the top Republican on the Small Business committee and is a former member of the armed forces herself, emphasized the importance of connecting with younger generations through social media platforms for military recruitment purposes. She raised questions about Meta's content moderation policies and their impact on military outreach efforts.
The senator cited instances where military-related posts were flagged for violations, resulting in reduced impressions and engagements. She highlighted specific cases where posts from the official GoArmy social media account were temporarily restricted or put on 'non-recommendable' status due to alleged guideline violations.
Ernst called on Zuckerberg to provide transparency regarding the guidelines used to moderate military content on the platform and to explain the measures taken to prevent future instances of shadow-banning. She also requested an estimate of the financial impact of suppressed Pentagon-sanctioned ads related to military content.
The letter from Sen. Ernst underscores the ongoing debate surrounding social media companies' content moderation practices and their implications for public discourse, particularly in relation to sensitive topics such as military service and national defense.
