MRC SPECIAL REPORT: The 39 Times Facebook Has Interfered in U.S. Elections Since 2012

The Media Research Center has issued a special report titled “39 Time Facebook Has Interfered in US Elections Since 2012” written by Gabriela Pariseau and Dan Schneider.

Here are Gabriela Pariseau and Dan Schneider’s Executive Summary with Recommendations:

Executive Summary

The story of Facebook’s stance on protecting free speech online is a complicated one, but its history on election interference is clear: The Big Tech platform has repeatedly injected itself into contentious elections through its actions. MRC Free Speech America researchers compiled 39 times Facebook was caught interfering in U.S. elections, beginning in 2012, reaching a crescendo in 2020 following Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s profree speech comments at Georgetown University in 2019.

From 2008 through 2024, Facebook has vacillated between a hands-off approach to free speech online (Zuckerberg’s stated intent of not becoming an “arbiter of truth”) and repeated election interference through policy changes and outright censorship of political candidates and ideas. Below are some of the highlights of MRC’s findings:

• Facebook interfered in elections no less than 39 times, repeatedly harming candidates by censoring content. Evidence shows that Facebook has repeatedly interfered in elections, overwhelmingly favoring Democrats since 2012:

• In 2024, Meta platforms have censored the following presidential candidates: RFK, Jr. (I), Larry Elder (R) and Jill Stein (G). • In 2022, Meta’s censorship centered on Republicans, including Senate candidate Eric Greiten (MO), congressional candidates Rich McCormick (GA) and Robby Starbuck (TN), gubernatorial candidates Kari Lake (AZ) and Kay Ivey (AL).
• In 2021, it deleted Virginia gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase’s account. • In 2020, Facebook cranked up its censorship apparatus, with special focus on Donald Trump. It also shuttered political advertising one week before the election.
• Facebook’s infamous censorship of then-sitting President Donald Trump: • Numerous Trump campaign ads, at least one pro-Trump Super PAC ad, numerous anti-Biden-Harris ads prior to Nov. 4.
• Trump’s posts and ultimately his account indefinitely after Jan. 6.
• Other candidates affected by censorship included: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Laura Loomer (R-FL).
• In 2018, Facebook censored various pro-life candidates, including Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Matt Rosendale (R-MT).
• In 2016, Facebook suspended numerous pro-Trump pages and pro-Bernie Sanders groups; it also artificially elevated liberal news in its Trending News section while blacklisting popular conservatives like Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY).
• In 2012, Facebook suspended a Veteran PAC for a meme drawing attention to the attack on Benghazi, which served to benefit President Barack Obama (D).
• On at least three occasions, Facebook/Zuckerberg voiced support for free speech online, but after the remarks, the Big Tech platform went in the opposite direction.
• In 2020, Zuckerberg said Big Tech platforms should not act as the “arbiter of truth” of speech online.
• Yet, Facebook censored and interfered in elections more aggressively than ever before, including suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
• In 2019 at Georgetown, Zuckerberg argued for “giving everyone a voice” and challenged those prioritizing “political outcomes” over “free expression.”
• But following a series of so-called “civil rights” audits conducted by the left, COO Sheryl Sandberg praised the leftist recommendations and committed to “put more of their proposals into practice,” which she did.
• In 2016, after calling Trump a “fearful voice,” Zuckerberg and Facebook signaled they would “not” use the company’s resources to prevent a Trump presidency.
• But Facebook censored pro-Trump pages, elevated liberal news in its Trending News section and blacklisted “popular conservative topics.”
• A key inflection point in 2019 led to a cascade of Facebook election interference before the 2020 election that was demonstrably stolen by Big Media & Big Tech.

Responding to left-wing backlash following Trump’s 2016 victory, Facebook reached out to left-wing groups to conduct a series of audits regarding how Facebook had “been used by hate groups, political entities, and others.” COO Sheryl Sandberg stated that the audits were “deeply important to me” and that it would be “one of my top priorities.”

• Illinois State Senator Laura Murphy (D) conducted the leftist audits, which Sandberg claimed “helped [Facebook] build upon crucial election-related efforts,” including censoring alleged “misinformation.”
• Murphy released the 89-page final report on July 8, 2020, which culminated in praise and commitment from Sandberg to “put more of their proposals into practice.”
• As opposed to Google, Facebook has provided a degree of openness. As bad as Facebook has been when it comes to free speech and censorship, unlike Google, Zuckerberg’s platforms have provided some level of responsiveness and openness to criticism. The platform has even admitted to some mistakes:
• Zuckerberg admitted during a Joe Rogan podcast interview that Facebook suppressed the New York Post Hunter Biden bombshell report after the FBI pressured it to be on “high alert” for “Russian propaganda.”
• Facebook admitted to blocking links to damaging leaked Democratic Party emails after WikiLeaks accused the platform of censorship.
• The tech giant has a history of reaching out to and meeting with conservatives, occasionally heading our calls for improvements. Recommendations • Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) should direct relevant committees and committee chairmen to investigate Facebook for interfering in elections.
• State legislatures should ensure that Big Tech cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination. • State attorneys general and state secretaries of state should take appropriate action to enforce state election laws as it relates to Facebook’s election interference.
• In the spirit of openness and transparency, Facebook should establish a bipartisan, blue ribbon commission to address the election interference and censorship issues outlined in this report.

Recommendations

• Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) should direct relevant committees and committee chairmen to investigate Facebook for interfering in elections.
• State legislatures should ensure that Big Tech cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination.
• State attorneys general and state secretaries of state should take appropriate action to enforce state election laws as it relates to Facebook’s election interference.
• In the spirit of openness and transparency, Facebook should establish a bipartisan, blue ribbon commission to address the election interference and censorship issues outlined in this report.

Click here to read the full 39 Time Facebook Has Interfered in US Elections Since 2012 MRC report.

About Gabriela Pariseau

Gabriela is an Assistant Editor in the Media Research Center’s Free Speech America division. She is a graduate of Christendom College where she earned a B.A. in History. Gabriela has also contributed to The Catholic Register, Arlington Catholic Herald, Students For Life of America and Iowa Right to Life. Twitter: @ gmpariseau.

About Dan Schneider

Vice President, FSA & MRC Business. Twitter: @ @Schneider_DC.

©2024. Amil Imani. All rights reserved.

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