Chairman Menendez Calls on Meta to Address Disinformation and Misinformation in Slovak Elections

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging him to ensure Meta’s platforms are not amplifying Russian election disinformation and misinformation, as Slovakia prepares to hold parliamentary elections at the end of the month.

“I am alarmed by recent reports of social media platforms like Meta’s amplifying Russian disinformation that have already resulted in the undermining of local mayoral elections in Slovakia,” wrote Chairman Menendez. “The same forces are mobilizing to undermine Slovakia’s September 30 general elections on a massive scale with much larger consequences.”

“It is imperative that Meta take seriously Facebook and WhatsApp’s emerging roles as tools used to support election interference in democratic countries, particularly in NATO and European Union member states targeted by Russian disinformation campaigns,” continued Chairman Menendez. “I urge you devote prompt attention to these matters.”

Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below:

“Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,

I write to express concern with Meta’s role in the upcoming September 30 general elections in Slovakia. As a NATO ally, member of the European Union, and stalwart supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion, the stakes of Slovakia’s elections are high and have ramifications beyond the country’s borders.

I am alarmed by recent reports[1] of social media platforms, like Meta’s, amplifying Russian disinformation that have already resulted in the undermining of local mayoral elections in Slovakia. The same forces are mobilizing to undermine Slovakia’s September 30 general elections on a massive scale with much larger consequences. We have repeatedly seen Russian actors try to undermine both the outcome of representative elections and faith in democratic processes as a whole throughout the world.

I have previously expressed concern about the fact that Meta has repeatedly failed to take meaningful action to stop enabling malicious actors, including Russia and China, from spreading disinformation and misinformation with the purpose of interfering in elections in multiple countries. I urge Meta to immediately dedicate renewed attention and resources to the upcoming elections in Slovakia, and request that you provide us with additional information regarding what steps Meta will take to prevent targeted foreign malign influence and election interference on its platform and avoid the significant, detrimental implications these activities may cause.

It is imperative that Meta take seriously Facebook and WhatsApp’s emerging roles as tools used to support election interference in democratic countries, particularly in NATO and European Union member states targeted by Russian disinformation campaigns. I urge you devote prompt attention to these matters. I look forward to your response, and welcome your continued engagement in order to ensure that moving forward Meta’s platforms reinforce, rather than undermine, human rights, transparency, and good governance worldwide.”

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