Facebook Faced Intense Pressure to Censor COVID Content, Zuckerberg Admits in Letter

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that the Biden administration exerted pressure on his company to “censor” COVID-19 content during the pandemic. This pressure reportedly included requests from the White House to remove misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines.

In a letter dated August 26, Zuckerberg addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, expressing regret for not voicing his concerns about this pressure sooner. He also reflected on other decisions made under his leadership of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp regarding content moderation.

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In July 2021, President Joe Biden criticized social media platforms, including Facebook, for allowing misinformation about vaccines to spread, suggesting that these platforms were contributing to public health issues. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy also accused Facebook of inadequately addressing misinformation, which they claimed hindered efforts to combat the pandemic.

At that time, Facebook stated it was taking “aggressive steps” to address misinformation, although the Biden administration eventually reduced its public criticism. Zuckerberg’s letter highlights that senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, pressured Meta for months to censor various types of COVID-19 content, including satire and humor. Zuckerberg described this pressure as inappropriate and stated his regret for not opposing it more strongly.

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The White House responded by emphasizing its stance on encouraging responsible actions to protect public health, while maintaining that tech companies should independently manage the information they provide.

In his letter, Zuckerberg also mentioned his decision not to make any financial contributions to support electoral infrastructure in the upcoming presidential election. This follows his previous $400 million donation through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative during the 2020 election, which faced criticism and legal challenges from some groups who perceived it as partisan.

Zuckerberg’s recent attempts to appeal to conservative audiences include praising Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt and appearing on right-wing podcasts. The Judiciary Committee, led by Representative Jim Jordan, a Trump ally, lauded Zuckerberg’s letter as a “significant win for free speech,” noting that it acknowledges Facebook’s role in censoring content.

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