Zuckerberg Claims White House Pressured Facebook on COVID-19 Content

Zuckerberg says the White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content during the pandemic

WASHINGTON -- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire." The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company didn't agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement that, "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 warn this year's U.S. election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That's after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass." He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other" despite analyses showing otherwise, he said. "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."

Zuckerberg says the White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content during the pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire." The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company didn't agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement that, "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 warn this year's U.S. election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That's after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass." He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other" despite analyses showing otherwise, he said. "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."

Mark Zuckerberg says the White House pressured Facebook over some Covid-19 content during the pandemic

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire." The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company didn't agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement that, "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 warn this year's U.S. election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That's after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass." He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other" despite analyses showing otherwise, he said. "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."

Zuckerberg: White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content

Zuckerberg says he censored content due to pressure from Biden administration. WASHINGTON -- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire." The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company didn't agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement that, "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 warn this year's U.S. election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That's after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass." He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other" despite analyses showing otherwise, he said. "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."

Zuckerberg Says the White House Pressured Facebook Over Some COVID-19 Content During the Pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire." The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company didn't agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement that, "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 warn this year's U.S. election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about COVID-19 vaccines. That's after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about COVID-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favoring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass." He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jordan, is a longtime Trump ally. Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated $400 million to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other" despite analyses showing otherwise, he said. "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." Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Biden officials pressured Facebook to censor Covid-19 content, Zuckerberg claims | BreakingNews.ie

Senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to "censor" some Covid-19 content during the pandemic, Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg has said. In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Mr Zuckerberg vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. Mr Zuckerberg alleged that the officials, including those from the White House, "repeatedly pressured" Facebook for months to take down "certain Covid-19 content including humour and satire". The officials "expressed a lot of frustration" when the company did not agree, he said in the letter. "I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Mr Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated August 26 and posted on the committee's Facebook page and to its account on X. The letter is the latest repudiation by Mr Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," he said, without elaborating. "We're ready to push back if something like this happens again." In response, the White House said in a statement: "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 warn this year's US election could be swamped by misinformation on social media with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and other tools to produce false news stories and content that could mislead voters. Facebook in early 2021 appended what Mr Zuckerberg called labels with "credible information" to posts about Covid-19 vaccines. That is after it moved in April 2020 -- just as the virus had led to global shutdowns and radical changes in everyday life -- to warn users who shared misinformation about Covid-19. Conservatives have long derided Facebook and other major tech companies as favouring liberal priorities and accused them of censorship. Mr Zuckerberg has tried to change the company's perception on the right, going on podcaster Joe Rogan's show in 2022 and complimenting Republican nominee Donald Trump's response to an assassination attempt as "badass". He sent Monday's letter to the House Judiciary Committee, whose chairman, Jim Jordan, is a long-time Trump ally. Mr Zuckerberg also said he would no longer donate money to widen election access for voters through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the company that runs the philanthropy for him and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple previously donated 400 million dollars (£302 million) to help local election offices prepare for voters in the 2020 presidential election, with funds used for protective equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling sites, drive-thru voting locations and equipment to process mail ballots. Mr Zuckerberg said: "I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other. "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."

Mark Zuckerberg Reveals Biden Administration Pressured Meta Platforms To Censor Certain COVID-19 Content, Vows To Resist Pressure In Future - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

Zuckerberg also indicated that he would resist any similar pressures in the future. Meta Platforms Inc META CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, his company faced pressure from senior Biden administration officials to censor certain content on its platforms. Citing a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, Reuters noted that Zuckerberg expressed regret for not opposing the pressure sooner and acknowledged certain decisions made by Meta in removing content during that period. "In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn't agree," Zuckerberg wrote in the letter, which was posted by the Committee on the Judiciary on its Facebook page. Zuckerberg also indicated that he would resist any similar pressures in the future. The letter was directed to Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Noting a Facebook post, Reuters highlighted that the Committee hailed the letter as a "big win for free speech," emphasizing that Zuckerberg had admitted to censoring American voices during the pandemic. In a statement to Politico, the White House said: "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," the statement read. Zuckerberg also confirmed in the letter that he will not contribute to support election infrastructure during the upcoming presidential election in November. He stated he does not want to play a role "one way or another" in this year's election. This decision is a marked shift from 2020, when he and his wife contributed $400 million through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to support election infrastructure. The 2020 contributions sparked criticism and legal challenges from groups who argued that the funding was partisan. Read Next: Mark Zuckerberg Tells Jim Jordan He Isn't Donating For Election Infrastructure In 2024: 'My Goal Is To Be Neutral And Not Play A Role One Way Or Another' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo via Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs