According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, senior Biden administration officials pressed Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic, and he promised that if similar demands were made again, the social media company would push back.
In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg claims that officials, including those from the White House, “repeatedly pressured” Facebook for months to remove “certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire.”
The officials “expressed a lot of frustration” when the corporation refused to accept, he wrote in the letter.
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“I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it,” Zuckerberg wrote in an Aug. 26 letter posted on the committee’s Facebook page and X account.
The letter is Zuckerberg’s latest rebuke of efforts to combat misinformation about the coronavirus epidemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, especially since reports have surfaced that some posts were deleted or blocked incorrectly.
“I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today,” he stated, without going into further. “We’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”
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In response, the White House issued a statement saying, “When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety.” Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech businesses and other private actors should consider the impact of their actions on the American people while making their own decisions about the information they convey.”
Experts warn that with the rise of artificial intelligence and other methods to manufacture false news reports and content that could mislead voters, this year’s US election could be dominated by misinformation on social media.
In early 2021, Facebook added what Zuckerberg described as “credible information” badges to postings about COVID-19 vaccines. That came when it moved in April 2020, just after the virus had caused global shutdowns and profound disruptions in daily life, to warn people who spread false information about COVID-19.
Conservatives have long accused Facebook and other major tech companies of favoring leftist objectives and censoring content.
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Zuckerberg attempted to alter the company’s impression on the right by appearing on podcaster Joe Rogan’s show in 2022 and praising Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt as “badass.” He addressed Monday’s letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longstanding Trump supporter.
Zuckerberg also stated that he would no longer provide money to expand voter access through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization headed by him and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
The pair previously gave $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funding going toward protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling stations, drive-thru voting locations, and mail-in ballot processing.
“I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other” despite evaluations proving otherwise, he said. “My goal is to remain neutral and not play a role in any manner – or to appear to play one. So I don’t expect to make a similar contribution this round.
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