A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives is "deeply concerned" about recent changes in Meta's policies. Last month, the company loosened its content moderation rules, abandoned third-party fact-checking, and suspended its corporate diversity programs. This was reported by Engadget.
"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.
Zuckerberg is asked to describe how "Trump's threats of retaliation against you" could have influenced the decision to end the fact-checking practice on the platform. He is also asked whether the Facebook founder has "discussed the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust case against Meta with anyone in the Trump administration."
The appeal also notes that Zuckerberg's recent statements seem to directly contradict previous statements he made when he announced the creation of a Supervisory Board to moderate Facebook and Instagram.
"The supervisory board, once touted as a beacon of accountability, becomes toothless when Meta itself refuses to adhere to the principles of trust and safety," the officials said in their letter.
The lawmakers also questioned Zuckerberg's public statements about the need for more "masculine energy" in corporations, calling them "particularly surprising given that Meta's longtime general counsel and current CFO are women, and three of Meta's key board committees are chaired by women."
Zuckerberg was given until February 21, 2025 to respond.