Zuckerberg says administration pushed Meta 'super hard' to take down vax content

Mark Zuckerberg, in a recent podcast with Joe Rogan, revealed that the Biden administration exerted significant pressure on Meta to remove posts discussing potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Zuckerberg expressed his general support for vaccines, stating they are "more positive than negative," but criticized the administration for attempting to censor discussions that he deemed truthful. He noted that the White House specifically requested the removal of content suggesting that vaccines might have side effects, which he felt was unjustified. Zuckerberg did not disclose the identities of those who made the requests but emphasized that Meta would not take down content that was "inarguably true." This statement aligns with previous criticisms he has made regarding the government's handling of COVID-related information. Additionally, Zuckerberg commented on the broader regulatory environment, expressing concern that the U.S. government has not adequately protected its technology sector from foreign regulators. He expressed optimism about working with the incoming Trump administration, suggesting a desire for a more favorable environment for American technology companies.

- Zuckerberg claims the Biden administration pressured Meta to censor vaccine-related content.

- He supports vaccines but criticizes the censorship of truthful discussions about side effects.

- Meta plans to shift from third-party fact-checking to community notes for content verification.

- Zuckerberg expresses concern over the U.S. government's regulatory stance on technology companies.

- He is optimistic about potential collaboration with the incoming Trump administration.