Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta faces mounting regulatory pressure as the company works behind the scenes to halt an FTC investigation while simultaneously navigating accusations of political bias from both sides of the aisle.
Key Takeaways
- Meta has ended its fact-checking program in favor of a user-based system similar to X’s Community Notes, signaling a shift toward free expression.
- Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly made regular White House visits to influence the FTC’s antitrust case that could force Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Instagram has faced technical issues blocking searches for “Democrats” and related hashtags, fueling accusations of political manipulation.
- Conservative figures remain banned from Meta platforms despite the company’s apparent pivot toward Trump’s administration.
- Meta’s content moderation teams are being relocated from California to Texas as part of broader policy changes.
Meta’s Policy Reversal on Content Moderation
Meta has announced significant changes to its content moderation practices, ending its fact-checking program that began following the 2016 presidential election. The company will now rely on users to add notes to posts potentially containing misinformation, adopting an approach similar to Elon Musk’s X Community Notes feature. Meta will also ease restrictions on discussions about immigration and gender identity as part of its broader policy shift. The decision marks a substantial reversal from Meta’s previous stance on misinformation and political content.
“It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, acknowledging the potential trade-offs of this approach.
Meta executives reportedly informed Trump officials about these policy changes in advance, a move that was well-received by conservative allies of the president-elect. Joel Kaplan, a senior Meta executive, explained the company’s intention to “undo the mission creep that has made our rules too restrictive and too prone to over-enforcement.” Additionally, Meta’s content moderation teams will be relocated from California to Texas as part of this restructuring.
Zuckerberg’s White House Lobbying Efforts
While implementing these policy changes, Zuckerberg has reportedly made regular visits to the White House to urge President Trump to influence the Federal Trade Commission’s decision regarding an antitrust case that threatens to break up Meta. The case could potentially force Meta to sell off WhatsApp and Instagram, a move that would significantly diminish the company’s market dominance. This lobbying effort comes as Meta faces regulatory scrutiny in both the United States and Europe.
“Zuckerberg spent hundreds of millions — billions — of dollars supporting open borders, ‘criminal justice reform’ (think – George Floyd riots) and election-fixing for Democrats and now he wants favors from the Trump administration,” said Natalie Winters, a conservative commentator, highlighting the apparent contradiction in Zuckerberg’s political positioning.
Critics have noted that Zuckerberg attended Trump’s inauguration and donated to his inaugural fund, indicating a shift in Meta’s relationship with the Trump administration following years of tension. This relationship soured after Trump’s accounts were banned following the January 6 Capitol incident, though Meta later reinstated them.
Platform Issues Fuel Political Bias Allegations
Meta is currently facing criticism over platform issues affecting Democratic Party-related content on Facebook and Instagram. Users have reported that Instagram is blocking searches for “Democrats” and related hashtags, citing “sensitive content” warnings. Similarly, hashtag restrictions affect terms like “#DNC,” while “#RNC” searches function normally. Meta has acknowledged these issues, attributing them to technical errors rather than intentional bias.
“We’re aware of an error affecting hashtags across the political spectrum and we are working quickly to resolve it,” stated Meta in response to these concerns.
Meanwhile, conservative figures who were previously banned from Meta’s platforms claim they remain unable to access their accounts despite the company’s apparent shift in policy. Laura Loomer, a conservative commentator, expressed frustration: “Zuckerberg is full of shit, And so are all of the so-called ‘conservatives’ he brought on now that Trump is back. Facebook lied to me & said my account would be restored. I’m still banned.”
User Backlash and Platform Stability
These policy changes and content moderation issues have led to significant user backlash, including a planned boycott campaign called “Lights Out Meta.” Digital rights groups have condemned Meta’s decision to end fact-checking, viewing it as potentially favorable to extremist content. Despite the controversy, the number of users actually leaving Meta’s platforms remains relatively small compared to its massive global user base, which exceeds two billion active users.
“In a hyper-partisan environment, even unintentional errors like this can escalate into accusations of partisanship. If these issues are not resolved quickly they risk fuelling conspiracy theories and damaging Meta’s reputation,” warned social media analyst Matt Navarra.
As Meta navigates these complex political and regulatory challenges, the company’s handling of content moderation and platform policies will likely remain under intense scrutiny from users, lawmakers, and regulatory bodies on both sides of the political spectrum.
Sources:
- Meta Keeps Big MAGA Accounts on Ban List as Mark Zuckerberg Lobbies Trump
- Here’s why Meta ended fact-checking, according to experts
