Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed in a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan that senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, during the pandemic. The officials were frustrated when Facebook didn’t comply with their demands. Zuckerberg stated that he believes the government pressure was wrong and expressed regret for not being more outspoken about it. He also vowed that Facebook would push back if faced with similar demands in the future. The White House responded by stating that they encouraged responsible actions to protect public health during the pandemic, and that tech companies should consider the effects of their actions on the American people. Zuckerberg has previously acknowledged mistakes in targeting misinformation during the pandemic and the 2020 election. Facebook has implemented measures to combat misinformation, such as labeling posts with credible information and warning users who share misinformation about COVID-19.
Zuckerberg also announced that he would no longer donate money through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to widen election access for voters, after previously donating $400 million for the 2020 election. He stated that he wants to remain neutral and not appear to favor any particular party in elections. Zuckerberg has faced criticism from conservatives who accuse Facebook of favoring liberal priorities and engaging in censorship. He has tried to improve the company’s perception among conservatives, including praising former president Donald Trump’s response to an assassination attempt on a podcast in 2022.
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