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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has asserted that Facebook was subjected to “pressure” from the Biden administration to censor COVID-19 related content during the pandemic. In a letter dated August 26 to U.S. Representative Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg addressed concerns regarding social media content moderation.
Zuckerberg claimed that in 2021, senior officials from President Joe Biden’s administration exerted repeated pressure on Meta to limit the dissemination of certain COVID-19 information, including satire and humor. He acknowledged that while the decision to censor content ultimately rested with Meta, the team would have approached the matter differently with the benefit of hindsight and new information.
In addition to the COVID-19 content issues, Zuckerberg expressed regret over the platform’s handling of a 2020 story related to alleged Russian disinformation and Hunter Biden’s laptop. He noted that the decision to demote the story while awaiting fact-checker verification drew significant scrutiny. Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta’s policies have been revised to address these concerns and prevent similar situations in the future.
The letter has elicited {crypto} considerable response from decentralization and free-speech advocates on social media platforms. Gabor Gurbacs, Director of Digital Asset Strategy at VanEck, expressed support for Zuckerberg’s public acknowledgment, stating that it highlights a broader issue of governmental influence over free speech. U.S. Senator Mike Lee questioned why Zuckerberg's regret did not materialize sooner, implying that earlier acknowledgment could have mitigated the impact. Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, urged support for American industry leaders to ensure proper handling of such matters.
Cointelegraph has reached out to the White House for comments on the allegations made in Zuckerberg’s letter. The ongoing discussion underscores the complex interplay between social media moderation, government influence, and free speech.
