House Democrats Demand Answers from Mark Zuckerberg on Meta’s Recent Policy Changes

A group of House Democrats are calling on Mark Zuckerberg to explain Meta’s recent policy changes, which they claim are "deeply concerning" and "dangerous." In a letter addressed to the Meta CEO, four members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee demanded details about the company’s move to loosen its content moderation rules, end corporate diversity programs, and ditch third-party fact checking.

Concerns Over Loosening Content Moderation Rules

The lawmakers expressed their concerns over the company’s decision to loosen its content moderation rules, which they believe gives the appearance of currying favor with the Trump Administration. "These policy changes, the timing of which gives the inescapable appearance of currying favor with the Trump Administration, are abhorrent, inconsistent, and dangerous," the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

Lack of Transparency on Policy Changes

Meta has not provided many specifics about how it will implement its new policies, which were announced shortly before President Donald Trump took office. The letter asks Zuckerberg to describe how Trump’s "threats of retribution against you" may have influenced the decision to end fact-checking on the platform. It also asks if Zuckerberg has "had discussions with anyone representing the Trump Administration regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Meta."

Contradiction with Previous Remarks

The letter notes that Zuckerberg’s recent statements seem to directly contradict previous remarks he made when the Oversight Board was first created. "The Oversight Board, once touted as a beacon of accountability, is rendered toothless when Meta itself refuses to adhere to the principles of ‘trust and safety,’" it says.

Questioning Zuckerberg’s Statements on Corporate Diversity

Lawmakers also questioned Zuckerberg about his public statements that corporations need more "regulatory oversight" and "trust and safety" measures. They pointed out that Zuckerberg’s recent statements seem particularly strange in light of the fact that Meta’s long-time Chief Legal Officer and its current Chief Financial Officer are both women, and the three most important committees of the Board of Directors are chaired by women.

Deadline for Response

Zuckerberg was given a February 21, 2025, deadline to respond to the letter. A Meta spokesperson told Engadget that "we don’t have anything further to say beyond all we’ve already communicated over the last weeks."