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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., chair of the House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on cybersecurity, is demanding that the Biden administration stop any alleged efforts to suppress information on social media. This call to action follows a recent letter from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which accused the White House of pressuring Facebook to censor certain COVID-19 content and express frustration when the platform did not comply fully with their requests.
In her letter, Mace urged President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to “cease and desist” from any activities involving the suppression of content on social media platforms. She has requested that the White House provide all relevant documents detailing any suppression campaigns or communications with social media companies by September 25. Mace’s move comes in response to revelations by Zuckerberg that Biden administration officials had repeatedly pressured Facebook to control certain content, including humor and satire related to COVID-19.
The controversy is set against a backdrop of recent legal and political developments. The Supreme Court recently sided with the Biden administration in a 6-3 decision against GOP attorneys general from Missouri and Louisiana. These plaintiffs had accused the White House of colluding with social media companies to suppress free speech. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, found no “concrete link” between the plaintiffs’ accusations and the conduct of government officials.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Republicans have seized upon Zuckerberg’s letter as evidence of undue government influence over social media platforms. Mace’s letter underscores the timing of these revelations, which come just over two months before the upcoming presidential election, and reflects broader concerns about the political influence exerted by social media companies.
Adding to the complexity, troubling revelations emerged about how Facebook and Google handled information related to an assassination attempt on former President Trump. This led House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to write to these companies for clarification on their actions.
Mace’s call for transparency and accountability highlights ongoing tensions between the government and social media companies regarding content moderation and political influence. As the election approaches, the scrutiny on these issues is likely to intensify.