Zuckerberg Claims White House Pressured Facebook on COVID-19 Content

Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that senior officials from the Biden administration pressured Facebook to censor content related to COVID-19 during the pandemic. He emphasized that the company would resist similar demands in the future.

In a letter addressed to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg claimed that officials, including those from the White House, consistently urged Facebook to remove specific COVID-19 content, including humor and satire.

According to Zuckerberg, these officials displayed considerable frustration when Facebook chose not to comply with their requests.

He expressed regret in his letter, stating, “I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it.” The letter, dated August 26, was shared on the committee’s Facebook page and X account.

This letter marks another instance where Zuckerberg has distanced himself from the measures taken to combat misinformation concerning the coronavirus pandemic, especially around the 2020 presidential election. Allegations have surfaced regarding the deletion or restriction of certain posts that may have been unjustly targeted.

Furthermore, Zuckerberg noted, “I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today.” He emphasized that Facebook is prepared to challenge any future demands akin to those experienced during the pandemic.

In response, the White House stated that it encouraged responsible actions to safeguard public health and safety during the pandemic. They maintained that tech companies must consider the implications their actions have on Americans while making independent decisions about the information they share.

As the upcoming U.S. election approaches, experts warn that misinformation could arise on social media platforms fueled by the increasing use of artificial intelligence and other technologies capable of generating misleading news stories.

In early 2021, Facebook introduced labels featuring “credible information” alongside posts about COVID-19 vaccines in response to the surge of misinformation. This follow-up came after the platform had already begun informing users about the dangers of sharing false information on COVID-19 in April 2020, coinciding with global shutdowns and significant changes to daily life.

Conservative critics have accused Facebook and similar tech giants of promoting liberal agendas and engaging in censorship. To counter this perception, Zuckerberg has taken steps to engage with right-leaning audiences. In a 2022 appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, he praised Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt.

Zuckerberg’s recent outreach was aimed at the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Jim Jordan, a noted ally of Trump. Additionally, he announced that he would cease financial contributions aimed at increasing voter turnout through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization he oversees with his wife, Priscilla Chan.

The couple previously donated $400 million to assist local election officials in preparing for the 2020 presidential election. The funds were used for protective equipment, drive-thru voting locations, and resources for processing mail ballots to ensure safety during the pandemic.

He acknowledged that some believe this financial support inadvertently favored one political party over the other, though analyses suggest otherwise. “My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another – or to even appear to be playing a role. So I don’t plan on making a similar contribution this cycle,” he stated.