Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Zuckerberg Berates US Censorship of Facebook on COVID-19 Content

POSTED ON August 27, 2024 •   Technology      BY Benedicta Bassey
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg/ Photo credit: Fox News

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, has expressed his disagreement with the US government’s efforts to censor specific Covid-19 content on his social media platforms in 2021.

Expressing his dismay, Zuckerberg said such attempt from the US government was "wrong”.

In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, made public by Republican committee members, Zuckerberg tackled various controversies surrounding content moderation on his social media platforms.

He said he had no plans for funding the US election infrastructure ahead of the country's presidential poll this year, donation that had raised sharp criticism from the Republican.

Zuckerberg’s submission to the committee coincides with intense scrutiny over the spread of online misinformation about the candidates.

As the election race heats up, the spotlight is on social media platforms like Meta to ensure the integrity of online discourse and prevent the proliferation of false information that could impact the outcome of the election.

Speaking on the censorship, Zuckerberg said, "the Joe Biden administration had in 2021 repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humour and satire.

“I believe the government's pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it.

“I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any administration in either direction — and we’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”

Republicans in Congress have been targeting social media and tech companies in recent months, alleging that they were suppressing or censoring conservative views.

Zuckerberg also said he would not be repeating his Covid-era push to fund non-profits working to support US electoral infrastructure due to such donations being seen by Republicans as being partisan.

“My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role,” he wrote.

The letter also touched on controversy regarding Facebook’s handling of a story regarding US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter that was published by the New York Post.

Zuckerberg said the story was “temporarily demoted” while Facebook fact checkers probed the possibility of it being “a potential Russian disinformation operation.”

 

AFP

READ ALSO
CBEX unregistered digital assets exchange in Nigeria, SEC warns of investment risks
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 19, 2025 0

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that Crypto Bridge Exchange, also referre...

READ ALSO
NDPC launches initiative to combat cyberbullying, financial fraud through data protection
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 7, 2025 0

The National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Monday reiterated its dedication to enhancing data...

READ ALSO
UNCTAD highlights risks of AI disparities as market approaches $4.8trn
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 7, 2025 0

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) worldwide, along with the emergence of new t...

READ ALSO
AI's Role in Spiritual Guidance: Enhancing teachings while upholding values
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 5, 2025 0

Artificial Intelligence (AI), a collection of technologies programmed into computers to execute vari...

READ ALSO
U.S. shows highest anxiety over AI Job loss amidst technological advancements
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Despite its advanced status, research indicates that the United States of America (USA) has the high...

READ ALSO
NITDA Partners Afrovision technologies to bridge job gap for Nigeria’s Tech Talent
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle the ongoing challenge of job placement for Nigeria’s expanding tech tal...

READ ALSO
OpenAI valuation hits $300 billion after SoftBank-led fund
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Japanese telecommunications company, alongside a group of investors, has recently announced yet...

READ ALSO
Nigeria set to lead in smart mobility with AI speed train initiative
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

The Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) and China’s Zhongguancun Infogu Asset Management Co...

OUR CHANNELS:

FG commends Ghana for rescuing 219 trafficked Nigerians from cybercrime
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The federal government has praised the Ghanaian authorities for rescuing at least 2...


Tinubu meets security chiefs, Calls for swift action against ongoing violence
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence...


FG releases ₦50Bn for university staff unions, A commitment to educational reform
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced on Wednesday that the federal govern...


Fani-Kayode criticises Mutfwang's leadership amid security crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

PLATEAU, Nigeria - Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-K...


Father demands justice as Nigerian correctional service dismisses kidnapping allegations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - Ogunsinasi Oluwaseyi, the father of 12-year-old Oluwaseyi Favour, who was r...


Ogun shuts  four companies for environmental violations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria (NAN) - The Ogun state government, via its Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), ha...


IMF urges Nigeria to exercise fiscal caution amid economic reforms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 27, 2025 0

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Nigeria to exercise caution in its expenditures...


FG urges IMF, World Bank to bolster economic reforms in sub-saharan Africa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

Finance Minister Wale Edun has emphasized the need for increased global assistance to reform economi...


LASG short 66,000 healthcare practitioners, threat to quality services delivery
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 27, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government is grappling with a significant shortage of medical prac...


Pope Francis to be buried April 26
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 26, 2025 0

Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, the Vatican announced Tuesday, as world leade...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu