National News
WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” certain COVID-19 content in the course of 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 corporate didn’t 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 within the Aug. 26 letter, which was posted on the committee's Facebook page and on his X account.
With the letter, Zuckerberg once more turns away from efforts to counter misinformation in regards to 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 an announcement: “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 12 months's U.S. election could possibly be flooded with disinformation on social media, which uses artificial intelligence and other tools to provide false news and content that would mislead voters.
In early 2021, Facebook added labels with what Zuckerberg called “credible information” to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That got here after Facebook moved to warn users who were spreading misinformation about COVID-19 in April 2020, just because the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes to day by day life.
Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other big technology firms for favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship.
Zuckerberg has sought to alter right-wing perceptions of the corporate 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 corporate that runs the charity for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan, to assist voters access elections.
The couple had previously donated $400 million to assist 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 evaluation 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.”
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