Zuckerberg Accuses Biden Administration of Pressuring Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to censor certain COVID-19 content during the pandemic. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg detailed how officials from the White House and other parts of the administration “repeatedly pressured” Facebook to remove specific content, including humor and satire related to COVID-19.
Zuckerberg expressed regret for not being more vocal about the government’s demands and vowed that Meta would resist similar pressures in the future. “I believe the government pressure was wrong,” Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated August 26, which was shared on the committee’s Facebook page and on X (formerly Twitter). He acknowledged that some decisions made during the pandemic, with hindsight, might have been different.
In response, the White House defended its stance, stating that it encouraged responsible actions to protect public health while maintaining that tech companies should independently manage their content decisions. The administration’s position emphasized that private actors, including tech companies, should consider the impact of their actions on public safety.
The letter comes amid growing concerns over misinformation in upcoming U.S. elections, with experts warning that AI and other tools could exacerbate the spread of false information. During the pandemic, Facebook implemented measures to combat misinformation, including adding labels with credible information about COVID-19 vaccines and warning users who shared false content.
Zuckerberg has faced criticism from conservatives, who have accused tech companies of bias and censorship. In response, he has sought to counteract these perceptions, including appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2022 and commenting positively on Republican figures.
Additionally, Zuckerberg announced he would cease donations through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative aimed at broadening voter access. This decision follows criticism that previous contributions, totaling $400 million for election-related expenses during the 2020 presidential election, might have disproportionately benefited one political party. Zuckerberg stated his intention to remain neutral and not influence the electoral process.