Meta, X, and Telegram: Who Stood for Free Speech and Who Folded?

By Newsroom

Administrator

Newsroom

Posted: February 7, 2025 at 6:09 pm, Updated: February 7, 2025 at 6:09 pm

Between Meta, X, and Telegram

As social media’s influence grows, Big Tech leaders are locked in battles with Western governments over censorship and free speech. Some have resisted government demands, while others have yielded under pressure.

Mark Zuckerberg: A CEO Under Fire

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), has faced criticism from both ends of the political spectrum.

Republicans accuse him of suppressing conservative voices, particularly during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. They claim his $420 million election spending was orchestrated to favor Democrats. Additionally, Meta was blamed for censoring reports on Hunter Biden’s “laptop from hell” just weeks before the election.

Democrats, on the other hand, believe Zuckerberg hasn’t done enough to moderate content. They argue that misinformation and hate speech continue to spread on Facebook and Instagram.

On August 26, Zuckerberg admitted that the Biden administration pressured him to censor certain COVID-related content. Instead of standing firm, he complied. This revelation confirmed suspicions that the government had a direct influence over content moderation on Meta’s platforms.

Elon Musk: The Self-Proclaimed Free Speech Defender

Elon Musk purchased Twitter (now X) in October 2022 with a bold promise—to make it a platform for free speech. His stance alarmed many Democrats, who feared a rise in hate speech and misinformation.

To prove government interference in social media, Musk released the “Twitter Files”, exposing how U.S. federal agencies influenced content moderation. The documents revealed behind-the-scenes efforts to suppress certain narratives under the guise of preventing misinformation.

Critics claim Musk has allowed too much freedom, failing to crack down on misinformation, hate speech, and anti-Semitism. Recently, Democratic lawmakers accused him of suppressing content that supports Vice President Kamala Harris while allowing narratives that could help Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.

Despite the backlash, Musk has largely resisted government and corporate pressure, maintaining that X should remain a digital town square for open debate.

Pavel Durov: The Silent Resister?

Unlike Zuckerberg and Musk, Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, avoids the political spotlight. However, he is now facing significant scrutiny.

On August 24, French authorities arrested Durov, charging him with allowing criminal activities such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and fraud to flourish on Telegram.

The European Commission has also targeted Telegram. In May 2024, Vice-President Vera Jourova noted that the app had reached 45 million monthly users in the EU, making it subject to strict self-censorship rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Telegram insists it follows all European laws. However, Durov has previously revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies approached him, seeking a backdoor into Telegram’s encrypted messages to spy on users. He refused, solidifying his reputation as a defender of privacy and free speech.

Who Stood for Free Speech, and Who Caved?

Zuckerberg caved to government pressure, especially on election-related and COVID-19 content.
Musk resisted censorship demands but faces accusations of favoring certain political narratives.
Durov has largely avoided compliance with government censorship but now faces legal action in Europe.

As Big Tech continues to shape online discourse, the debate over free speech and government control is far from over. The question remains: Are social media giants truly independent, or are they tools of political power?