Facebook often lands in hot water for the content it chooses to censor on its platform — and the content it allows to remain. The company’s decision-making process isn’t always transparent, and its treatment of misinformation has wavered over time. However, according to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the company wants to remove itself from the equation by not judging the truth at all. 

Zuckerberg’s remarks are part of a broader strategy to allow political opinions of all stripes to flourish on the platform without oversight. 

“I don’t think that Facebook or internet platforms in general should be arbiters of truth,” Zuckerberg told CNBC. “Political speech is one of the most sensitive parts in a democracy, and people should be able to see what politicians say.”

However, he went on to say that there are lines political figures can’t cross, such as hate speech that incites violence. 

“There are clear lines that map to specific harms and damage that can be done where we take down the content,” he continued. “But overall, including compared to some of the other companies, we try to be more on the side of giving people a voice and free expression.”

While Facebook’s free speech goals are admirable, as the largest social media platform in the world, the company should bear more responsibility for how it’s used — or in this case, abused.  

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