Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a letter to the US House Judiciary Committee led by Republicans, claimed that the Biden-Harris administration "repeatedly pressured" Facebook to censor content related to Covid-19. While expressing regret for not being more vocal at the time, Zuckerberg acknowledged that some decisions made by his platform, "with the benefit of hindsight and new information," would have been different.

Zuckerberg's letter emphasized that Meta’s platforms prioritize free expression and safe connections, noting that they regularly receive feedback from governments around the world. However, he revealed that in 2021, "senior officials" from the White House pressured Facebook for months to censor specific Covid-related content, including humor and satire. The Meta CEO said that when the company refused, the administration expressed frustration.

Despite the pressure, Zuckerberg stated that the ultimate decisions about content were made by Facebook, including changes related to Covid-19. The letter also addressed Facebook's handling of a New York Post story in 2020 alleging corruption within the Biden family. Zuckerberg recounted that the FBI had warned Meta of a potential Russian disinformation campaign targeting the Bidens, which led the company to temporarily reduce the reach of the story while fact-checking it. He admitted that, in hindsight, the story was not part of a disinformation effort, and demoting it was a mistake.

Zuckerberg’s letter was posted on social media by the Republican committee, which claimed it demonstrated Facebook’s censorship under government pressure. Elon Musk also weighed in, suggesting it indicated a potential violation of the First Amendment.