WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” certain COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed the social media giant would fight back if faced with such demands again.
In a letter to Republican Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan, Zuckerberg claims that officials, including those from the White House, have “repeatedly pressured” Facebook over months to remove “certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire.”
When the company did not agree, officials “expressed their deep frustration,” the letter said.
“I believe the government’s pressure was wrong and I regret that we did not speak more clearly about this,” Zuckerberg wrote in the Aug. 26 letter, which was posted on the committee’s Facebook page and on his X account.
With the letter, Zuckerberg once again turns away from efforts to counter misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, especially after allegations emerged that some posts were wrongfully deleted or restricted.
“I also think we made some decisions that, in hindsight and with new information, we would not make today,” he said, without elaborating. “We are prepared to fight back if something like this happens again.”
In response, the White House said in a statement: “In the face of a deadly pandemic, this administration has promoted responsible actions to protect public health and safety. Our position has been clear and consistent: We believe technology companies and other private actors should consider the impact of their actions on the American people while making independent decisions about the information they present.”
Experts warn that this year’s U.S. election could be flooded with disinformation on social media, which uses artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news and content that could mislead voters.
In early 2021, Facebook added labels with what Zuckerberg called “credible information” to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That came after Facebook moved to warn users who were spreading misinformation about COVID-19 in April 2020, just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes to daily life.
Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other large technology companies for favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship.
Zuckerberg has sought to change right-wing perceptions of the company by appearing on podcaster Joe Rogan’s show in 2022 and calling Republican candidate Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt “crass.” He sent his Monday letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman Jordan is a longtime Trump ally.
Zuckerberg also said he would stop donating money through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the charity for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan, to support voters access elections.
The couple had previously donated $400 million to support local election offices prepare for the 2020 presidential election. The funds were used for protective equipment to contain the spread of coronavirus at polling places, drive-in polling stations and equipment to process mail-in ballots.
“I know some people believe this work has benefited one party more than the other,” despite analysis showing otherwise, he said. “My goal is to remain neutral and not play a role in either direction – or even to appear to play a role. So I don’t plan to make a similar contribution this election cycle.”
