Facebook Suppresses Reporting on Black Lives Matter Financial Controversy
The New York Post’s investigation revealing questionable financial activities within the Black Lives Matter nonprofit has reportedly been suppressed by Facebook. This continues despite the platform’s earlier promises to reduce censorship, as disclosed by the Post.
This situation arises amid a Department of Justice investigation probing potential misuses of donations by BLM’s leadership.
The Post’s initial report emerged in April 2021, focusing on co-founder Patrice Cullors, who used $3.2 million to acquire four upscale properties in Georgia and California.
After the announcement of the Justice Department’s investigation, some Facebook users tried to share links to the Post’s articles, only to encounter a message stating that the link could not be shared due to community standards violations.
This pattern of suppression is reminiscent of events in 2021 when Facebook similarly blocked users from sharing the initial article. The situation came to the attention of parent company Meta, which announced that the issue was resolved later in the day.
This isn’t the first instance of Facebook curtailing the Post’s coverage. A report from a House Judiciary Committee subcommittee last year indicated that the platform had previously censored the newspaper’s articles related to Hunter Biden’s laptop in October 2020, allegedly to favor the Biden administration.
Before the Post broke the story about the laptop, the FBI had warned technology companies of potential misinformation campaigns. Following the story’s publication, internal discussions at Facebook revolved around censoring content to comply with perceived political pressures.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, admitted in a letter to the committee that the Biden administration had pressured Facebook to limit the dissemination of information in 2021 concerning topics like the laptop and COVID-19. He expressed regret for this and noted that some decisions would differ if made with current understanding.
Despite these acknowledgments, Facebook continues to restrict the sharing of the Post’s original reports about BLM. The articles detail luxurious properties purchased by Cullors, which include a ranch near Atlanta featuring an airplane hangar and a $1.4 million estate in California close to Malibu. Public records indicate that Cullors has sold both properties since then.
Cullors previously asserted that BLM funds were not used for these purchases, yet she resigned a month after the Post highlighted the properties.
Notably, Meta’s co-founder Dustin Moskowitz and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey have contributed substantial funds to initiatives connected to Cullors, particularly after her advocacy for “net neutrality.” Records indicate that she began this advocacy in 2014, raising over $5.5 million through organizations controlled by Moskowitz and his spouse.
Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, BLM received over $90 million in donations from various corporations and progressive donors, bolstering its efforts for racial justice.
Cullors has not responded to several inquiries for comment as of Friday.
