Mark Zuckerberg Claims White House ‘Pressured’ Meta to Censor COVID-19 Content

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta, has alleged that the Biden administration exerted pressure on Meta to censor specific COVID-19 related content. In a revealing letter addressed to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg expressed regret over some of the decisions Meta made under this pressure, stating that in hindsight, different choices might have been made.

The letter, which was made public on both the committee’s Facebook page and X social media platform, details months of persistent requests from senior officials, including the White House, aimed at influencing Meta’s handling of COVID-19 content. According to Zuckerberg, these requests even extended to content categories like humor and satire, which stirred frustration among administration officials when Meta resisted.

While confirming the authenticity of the letter to CNBC, a Meta spokesperson emphasized that any decisions to remove content were ultimately made by Meta, despite the government’s influence. Zuckerberg, reflecting on these interactions, remarked that the government pressure was inappropriate and that Meta should have been more vocal in its opposition.

In response, the White House defended its stance in a statement to Politico, asserting that its interactions with technology companies were driven by public health and safety considerations amid a deadly pandemic. The administration maintained that it has consistently encouraged tech companies to consider the public impact of their actions while respecting their independence.

In 2021, amid escalating tensions over pandemic misinformation, Facebook reported removing over 20 million posts related to COVID-19 that violated its content policies. This move came in the backdrop of criticism from the White House and other stakeholders who were concerned about the rampant spread of misinformation on social platforms.

The debate over content moderation on social media continues to intensify, with implications for how platforms manage information during critical public health emergencies. Zuckerberg’s letter highlights the complex balance tech companies must navigate between government expectations and their commitment to uphold content standards without succumbing to external pressures.

As the discourse unfolds, Zuckerberg has pledged that Meta will stand firm against similar pressures in the future, striving to maintain neutrality and independence in its content moderation practices, especially with the U.S. presidential elections approaching. He also noted that, unlike in previous elections, he would abstain from making contributions related to electoral infrastructure through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to avoid any appearance of influencing the electoral process.