The Facebook Files: Jim Jordan exposes Biden admin’s pressure on social media speech censorship
The recent wave of subpoenaed internal meeting notes between Facebook top brass and Biden administration officials peel back layers of efforts from the White House to regulate truthful speech on Facebook, especially around the COVID-19 topic in 2021.
In the third installment of “The Facebook Files”, released on X by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a detailed picture emerges of a profound collaboration between the Biden White House and social media titan, Facebook.
The recent wave of subpoenaed internal meeting notes between Facebook top brass and Biden administration officials peel back layers of efforts from the White House to regulate truthful speech on Facebook, especially around the COVID-19 topic in 2021.
Statements made by President Biden, accusing Facebook of “killing people” due to certain publishable narratives, reflect the extent of this control quest. Rob Flaherty, the Director of Digital Strategy for President Biden at the time, consistently urged Facebook to justify its content choices.
Rob Flaherty, President Biden’s then-Director of Digital Strategy, repeatedly put pressure on Facebook to explain its content decisions.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 3, 2023
“We have to explain to President, Ron, people, why there is misinfo on the internet…” pic.twitter.com/zUZYbKHfA9
The uncovered discussions show Flaherty stating, “We have to explain to President, Ron, people, why there is misinfo on the internet…” He also interrogated Facebook's efforts to curtail traffic from outlets like the New York Post.
He asked, “I’m curious – NY Post churning out articles every day... What is supposed to happen to that from Policy perspective. Does that article get a reduction, labels?”
However, regulating content was not the endgame for the Biden White House, as revealed by the Facebook Files. Flaherty voiced desires for Facebook to go one step further by barring certain users from the platform altogether.
This intensified approach towards censorship and the elimination of dissenting viewpoints saw Flaherty push Facebook to “play ball” and collaborate with the Biden Administration. He cited this as his “dream.”
In an audacious attempt to control narratives, the Biden administration sought to manipulate Facebook's algorithm. They aimed for user feeds to be dominated by outlets such as the New York Times, and fewer posts from the Daily Wire and conservative host Tomi Lahren.
But that’s not all.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 3, 2023
The Biden White House wanted to control what you saw on Facebook.
They questioned whether Facebook could change its algorithm so users saw more posts from the New York Times and less from the @realDailyWire and @TomiLahren. pic.twitter.com/oZUDDv6324
“Why did they do that? Because they didn’t think you were smart enough to decide for yourself,” wrote Jordan. “President Biden’s head of strategic communications and public engagement for the #COVID19 response, Courtney Rowe, mocked Real America’s ability to determine what's true and what isn’t.”
Why did they do that? Because they didn’t think you were smart enough to decide for yourself.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 3, 2023
President Biden’s head of strategic communications and public engagement for the #COVID19 response, Courtney Rowe, mocked Real America’s ability to determine what's true and what isn’t. pic.twitter.com/NS3PJBM7M5
In response to this mounting pressure, a Facebook employee proposed the concept of “containing” content if outright removal wasn't feasible. Flaherty, however, was persistent in his demands for extensive content control.
Facebook knew it had to act.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 3, 2023
One employee tried to explain to the White House that if the company couldn’t “remove” content, it could at least “contain it.” pic.twitter.com/unlGNYpSAd
Ultimately, Facebook gave in. They confessed to limiting the reach of specific posts – including those not breaching their terms and containing verifiable information – in discussions with the White House.
Just read this from a Facebook employee. pic.twitter.com/IXMKmzAEvE
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 3, 2023
These freshly subpoenaed notes further illustrate the Biden administration's relentless quest to control Facebook content, reinforcing the narrative of an emerging censorship-industrial complex. Rep. Jordan concluded his exposé with a vow of continued revelations.
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