Meta's Director of International Relations, Joel Kaplan, appeared on the Fox & Friends program on the Republican Fox News channel to talk about the new content moderation policy for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced today by Mark Zuckerberg.
"This is a great opportunity for us to restore the balance in favor of free speech. As Mark says in his video, we are returning to our roots and freedom of speech," said Kaplan.
Kaplan also announced that Meta is changing some of its content moderation rules, particularly those that the company believes are "too restrictive and don't allow enough discussion around sensitive topics such as immigration, transgender issues, and gender.".
"We want to ensure that discussion can take place freely on the platform, without fear of censorship," Kaplan explained. "We have the opportunity to change the rules and make them more favorable to freedom of expression. And we’re not just changing the rules, we’re actually changing how we apply them."
In 2021, Facebook's Oversight Board upheld the decision to block the accounts of then-former U.S. President Donald Trump on Facebook and Instagram after he praised individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. However, now, after Trump's new victory, Meta views his administration's return as a positive signal.
"A new administration is coming to us, one that is far from pressuring companies to censor and is a strong proponent of free speech," said Kaplan, praising Trump's new administration. "This brings us back to the values on which Mark founded the company."
Last year, Zuckerberg sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, in which he acknowledged feeling pressure from the Biden administration, particularly regarding COVID-related content and even things like satire and humor.
Kaplan also mentioned that Meta sees "opportunities for partnership" with the Trump administration not only on issues of free speech but also in "promoting American business and America's technological advantages."