Zuckerberg’s Right-Wing Transformation: Still a Long Way to Go

Clear Facts

• Mark Zuckerberg announced a shift in Meta’s censorship policies in January 2025, aiming to reduce previous restrictions on free expression.
• Despite these announcements, Meta’s current community standards still allow for significant censorship, particularly under policies labeled as “hateful conduct” and “harmful health misinformation.”
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is scrutinizing Big Tech’s censorship practices, with potential formal actions on the horizon.

Mark Zuckerberg’s recent declarations about reducing censorship on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been met with skepticism. Despite his January 2025 announcement promising a return to “free expression,” the reality of Meta’s policies suggests that significant censorship mechanisms remain in place.

Zuckerberg’s move came after a history of Meta’s aggressive content moderation, which included high-profile actions such as suspending former President Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Meta justified this by labeling Trump’s presence as a “serious risk to public safety.” This decision eventually led to a $25 million settlement with Trump.

The company’s past actions also included restricting COVID-19-related content that did not align with major health agencies’ narratives. Meta employees frequently consulted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to determine permissible content. Zuckerberg later expressed regret, acknowledging that some censored content was “more debatable or true” than initially thought.

Despite these reflections, Meta’s current community standards still include comprehensive sections on “hateful conduct” and “harmful health misinformation.” The latter covers non-COVID-related health issues, with Meta consulting leading health organizations to identify misinformation that could harm public health. However, the company has not clarified whether it continues to work with the same public health agencies as during the pandemic.

Meta’s policies also address misinformation related to vaccines and “election and census integrity.” The guidelines state that there is no exhaustive list of prohibited content, leaving room for interpretation and continued censorship.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken note of these issues, with a senior official stating, “In case there was any doubt, Big Tech is on notice. We do not intend to take our foot off the gas any time soon.” The FTC is also pursuing an antitrust lawsuit against Meta, set to go to trial in April.

Zuckerberg’s recent actions, including appointing Republicans and Trump allies to influential positions within Meta, have raised questions about his motivations. Some critics, like journalism professor Eric Thomas, view these moves as a “free expression magic trick,” suggesting that Zuckerberg’s changes are more about appearances than genuine reform.

While Zuckerberg’s public persona has shifted, with appearances on podcasts and a newfound interest in jiu-jitsu and weightlifting, the core issues of censorship on Meta platforms remain largely unchanged. As the FTC continues to scrutinize Big Tech, it remains to be seen whether Zuckerberg’s rightward shift will translate into meaningful policy changes.

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