WASHINGTON – Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has accused senior Biden administration officials of pressuring Facebook to censor certain COVID-19 content during the pandemic.
In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg claimed that officials, including those from the White House, repeatedly urged Facebook to remove specific COVID-19 posts, including those that were humorous or satirical.
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Zuckerberg expressed regret that Facebook was not more vocal about this government pressure, stating, “I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it.” The letter, dated Aug. 26, was posted on the committee’s Facebook page and its account on X.
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This accusation is the latest in Zuckerberg’s ongoing critique of efforts to combat misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. He acknowledged that some decisions made by Facebook at the time would not be repeated with the benefit of hindsight and new information, adding, “We’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”
In response, the White House maintained that its actions during the pandemic were aimed at protecting public health and safety. A statement from the Administration read, “When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety. Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present.”
Experts have warned that misinformation could overwhelm this year’s U.S. election, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence and other tools capable of creating misleading content. In early 2021, Facebook began appending labels with “credible information” to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. This followed an April 2020 initiative to warn users who shared COVID-19 misinformation.
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Conservatives have long criticized Facebook and other tech giants for allegedly prioritizing liberal agendas and engaging in censorship. Zuckerberg has made efforts to alter this perception, including appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2022, where he praised Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt. The letter was sent to the House Judiciary Committee, led by Jordan, a staunch Trump ally.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.