Zuckerberg says White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content during pandemic
WASHINGTON — CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg Facebook reportedly pushed to “censor” some COVID-19-related content during the pandemic, Biden administration officials said, and vowed the social media giant would retaliate if it faced such demands again.
In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg claims that officials, including those in the White House, have “repeatedly pressured” Facebook for months to remove “certain COVID-19-related content, including humorous and satirical content.”
Officials “expressed a great deal of frustration” when the company did not agree, he said in the letter.
“I believe the government’s pressure was misguided and regret that we were not more forthcoming about it,” Zuckerberg wrote in the letter, dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee’s Facebook page and his X account.
The letter is Zuckerberg’s latest pushback against efforts to target misinformation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were wrongly removed or restricted.
“I also think we made choices that, with hindsight and new information, we would not make today,” he said, without elaborating. “We are prepared to react if such a situation occurs again.”
In response, the White House said in a statement: “In the face of a deadly pandemic, this administration has encouraged responsible action to protect public health and safety. Our position has been clear and consistent: We believe technology companies and other private actors should consider the effects of their actions on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present.”
Experts warn of US elections this year could be overwhelmed by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce fake news and content that could mislead voters.
Facebook early 2021 attached What Zuckerberg called labels containing “credible information” on posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That’s after he moved in April 2020 — just as the virus had led to global lockdowns and drastic changes to daily life — to warn users who shared false information about COVID-19.
Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other big tech companies, accusing them of favoring liberal priorities and censorship.
Zuckerberg has tried to change perceptions of the company on the right, appearing on podcaster Joe Rogan’s show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt as “badass.” He sent Monday’s letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally.
Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to expand access to elections for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that manages philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
The couple before donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare to welcome voters during the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of coronavirus at polling places, drive-thru voting locations, and equipment to process mail-in ballots.
“I know some people think this work has benefited one party over another,” despite analysis that shows otherwise, he said. “My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or the other — or even appear to play a role. So I don’t intend to make a similar contribution this cycle.”
