In a pointed critique, President Joe Biden has voiced strong disapproval of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to eliminate the fact-checking departments on Facebook, labeling it "really shameful."
The Guardian reported that President Biden has condemned Zuckerberg's move to replace fact-checking with community notes, arguing it undermines the principle of truthfulness fundamental to American society.
Joe Biden expressed that Zuckerberg's shift towards community-moderated notes rather than traditional fact-checking counters American justice ideals. He underscored the importance of transparency in public discourse by highlighting that "telling the truth matters."
Zuckerberg announced this pivotal change last week, stating it was initially motivated by a desire to enhance public trust and support free expression across Meta's platforms.
According to him, the fact-checking system, implemented since December 2016, seemed to create more mistrust than clarity.
In an effort to refine Meta's approach, Zuckerberg pointed to recent elections as a cultural turning point that emphasized the need for prioritizing free speech, reducing errors, and simplifying company policies. These adjustments also reflect a broader shift towards community-involved content moderation, similar to strategies employed by Elon Musk's platform X.
President Biden questioned Zuckerberg's intentions, arguing that such decisions made by a billionaire influence millions and contradict what America represents. He expressed, "I don’t know what that’s all about – it's completely contrary to what America is about."
As his time in office nears its end with Donald Trump's impending inauguration, Biden remarked upon the broader implications of this change on American media democracy.
He highlighted the impact of abandoning fact-checking by stating that it is "really shameful" when influential figures alter media standards.
In contrast, Zuckerberg claimed during a podcast with Joe Rogan that officials from the Biden administration applied undue pressure on Facebook to remove specific content, particularly concerning Covid-19 information. He described scenarios where ministers allegedly demanded the deletion of content aligned with their views.
Zuckerberg stated that while Meta was not opposed to vaccines, they faced significant pressure to censor views critical of the Covid-19 vaccination initiative.
In retrospect, some content moderation decisions made during Biden's administration were viewed with regret due to evolving circumstances and information.
Furthermore, Meta's internal developments include a major restructuring as it informed employees about plans to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion team. This action follows a trend observed with companies like Walmart and Ford.
In response to these changes, the White House emphasized that technology companies need to ponder their societal impact, even when making independent informational decisions.
As parting advice, Biden described his greatest regret as president as the unaddressed spread of misinformation, notably stemming from narratives suggested by Trump.
During a press call, Biden criticized Zuckerberg's reasoning for prioritizing free speech over accurate reporting. He acknowledged the necessity of restrictions on illegal content yet felt that the decision was irresponsible.
For Biden, the underlying concern remains that powerful individuals, such as Zuckerberg, might steer public discourse away from hard-authenticated truth, thereby affecting millions who rely on these platforms for news. He highlighted that billionaire-driven media decisions could skew public perceptions and erode authenticity in exchange for unfounded views.
While this shift aligns with practices elsewhere in the tech industry, it's become a point of contention amid increasing political anxiety over misinformation's pervasive threat. With previous fact-checking efforts deemed flawed, Zuckerberg's focus on community moderation could pose complexities as debates over free speech and truth hold sway.
