Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to settle a $25 million lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump over the suspension of his accounts after the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit accused Meta of unfairly censoring Trump when the company, then known as Facebook Inc., suspended his accounts for inflammatory language. At the time, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of peaceful leadership, given the nation’s political climate.
The settlement comes after years of criticism from right-leaning politicians, claiming that Big Tech companies, including Meta, showed bias against conservatives. Meta has since shifted its approach by abandoning its fact-checking system and adopting community-driven moderation, much like X Corp. under Elon Musk.
The relationship between Meta and Trump has notably warmed, with Zuckerberg meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November and publicly praising his administration’s support for American tech. Zuckerberg has also been vocal about being pressured by the government to censor content, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has even moved away from its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The lawsuit settlement is seen as part of a broader shift in Meta’s stance, with Zuckerberg speaking positively about the Trump administration’s impact on tech companies during a recent investor call.
