Mark Zuckerberg’s sudden pivot toward conservative values has many questioning his true motives. Is the Meta CEO genuinely embracing right-wing principles, or is this just a clever business strategy to shield his tech empire from regulatory scrutiny?
At a glance:
• Zuckerberg announced a policy change in January 2025 to reduce censorship on Facebook and Instagram
• Meta previously censored content about COVID-19 and suspended Donald Trump’s account, resulting in a $25 million settlement
• Despite claims of returning to free expression, Meta’s community standards still allow for significant content censorship
• Critics view Zuckerberg’s rightward shift as superficial and strategic rather than genuine ideological change
• The FTC is scrutinizing Big Tech censorship with an anti-trust lawsuit against Meta headed to trial
Zuckerberg’s Conservative Makeover
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made headlines with what appears to be a significant shift toward conservative values and policies. In January 2025, he announced sweeping changes to reduce censorship on Facebook and Instagram, platforms that had previously been quick to remove content under the umbrella of combating “hate speech” and “misinformation.”
This comes after years of Meta facing criticism from conservatives for apparent bias, including the high-profile suspension of President Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol protest. That censorship decision ultimately cost Meta $25 million in a settlement with the President, highlighting the financial consequences of the company’s previous approach to content moderation.
https://t.co/WWdE1JtQrf pic.twitter.com/0baAlA7aNO
— Russell Michaels, Momotaros (@TGBED8v8) March 31, 2025
The tech billionaire has seemingly adopted a more right-leaning stance publicly, appearing alongside UFC CEO Dana White and engaging with conservative figures. His appearance at Trump’s inauguration generated significant buzz, with many noting his changed demeanor and apparent comfort among conservative circles.
He’s a serial liar. https://t.co/x4PhOzGeRe
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 31, 2025
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Despite Zuckerberg’s public pivot and promise to return to free expression principles, Meta’s actual policies tell a different story. The company’s community standards still contain numerous provisions allowing for significant content censorship, raising questions about the authenticity of this apparent transformation.
Meta has reformed its “hate speech” policy but maintains a similar “hateful conduct” policy in its place. The company abandoned specific COVID-19 misinformation rules while still consulting health organizations on broader “public health misinformation” policies that could be used to restrict similar content.
The misinformation section in Meta’s guidelines remains broad and includes numerous categories such as vaccines and election integrity. This framework continues to provide the company with significant latitude to censor content despite Zuckerberg’s public statements about promoting free expression.
Meta is also phasing out its fact-checking program while introducing a community notes feature similar to X’s approach. However, the company maintains strict policies on content from hacked sources, removing such material regardless of the subject’s public status – a rule that could potentially affect political discourse.
Strategic Business Move
Zuckerberg’s rightward shift comes at a time when Meta faces significant regulatory scrutiny, including an anti-trust lawsuit set for trial. Critics suggest his conservative repositioning is less about genuine ideological change and more about protecting Meta’s business interests against potential government action.
The CEO has made strategic moves to appeal to conservatives, including appointing Republicans to influential positions within the company. These actions, combined with public statements expressing regret for excessive content moderation during the COVID-19 pandemic, appear calculated to repair Meta’s relationship with conservative users and lawmakers.
Data shows that Meta’s anti-hate speech enforcement actions peaked in 2021 but have steadily declined since then. However, the underlying policies enabling censorship largely remain in place, suggesting that Zuckerberg’s apparent transformation may be more about optics than substantial policy changes that would truly protect free speech on the platform.
