Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has disclosed that his company faced pressure from the Biden-Harris administration to censor certain content, particularly related to COVID-19.
As reported by Fox Business, Zuckerberg acknowledged the government's attempts to influence content moderation on Facebook in a letter addressed to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan.
The letter, sent on August 26, 2024, details Meta's cooperation with the committee's investigation, including the provision of thousands of documents and making a dozen employees available for interviews.
Zuckerberg emphasized that while Meta platforms are designed to promote free speech and connection, they also face regular concerns from governments worldwide regarding public discourse and safety.
Zuckerberg's letter revealed that in 2021, senior officials from the Biden administration and White House repeatedly pressured Meta to censor specific COVID-19 content, including humor and satire. The company's resistance to these demands reportedly led to significant frustration from the administration.
According to Zuckerberg, Meta ultimately retained decision-making power over content removal. However, he expressed regret over the company's response to the pressure, stating: "I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it."
The Meta CEO also acknowledged that some content moderation decisions made during that period might have been different with the benefit of hindsight and new information.
Zuckerberg emphasized Meta's commitment to maintaining independent content standards, regardless of pressure from any administration. He stated that the company should be prepared to resist such influences, whether they come from the current or future administrations.
The letter also addressed Meta's approach to content moderation in general. Zuckerberg reiterated that Meta's platforms are intended for everyone and aim to promote speech while ensuring user safety and security. He noted that the company regularly receives input from governments and other entities regarding public discourse and safety concerns.
In addition to discussing COVID-19 content moderation, Zuckerberg's letter touched on the handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story. He explained that prior to the 2020 election, the FBI had warned Meta about a potential Russian disinformation operation involving the Biden family and Burisma.
When the New York Post published a story about corruption allegations involving Biden's family, Meta had fact-checkers review the story and temporarily demoted its visibility. Zuckerberg admitted: "It's since been made clear that the reporting was not Russian disinformation, and in retrospect, we shouldn't have demoted the story."
As a result of this incident, Meta has revised its policies and processes. The company no longer temporarily demotes content in the United States while awaiting fact-checker reviews.
Mark Zuckerberg's letter to the House Judiciary Committee has revealed significant pressure from the Biden-Harris administration on Meta's content moderation practices, particularly regarding COVID-19 information. The Meta CEO expressed regret over the company's handling of this pressure and its approach to the Hunter Biden laptop story. Meta has since implemented policy changes to prevent similar situations in the future, emphasizing its commitment to independent decision-making in content moderation.
