In a battle of social media superstars, MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for what she said was her role in fomenting the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.
“He’s part of that problem,” said the Democrat in an online meeting at City Hall on Friday with constituents in the Bronx and Queens. “And Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have partial responsibility for Wednesday’s events, period.”
The social media mogul, she said, spoiled white supremacy groups on Facebook – and even, she accused, participated in “dinners with white supremacist sympathizers”
“They specifically treated this type of radicalization differently, also known as kid gloves,” said AOC, pointing to his contentious discussion with Zuckerberg at a 2019 Congressional hearing.
“I asked him specifically about the disinformation related to the election … and the link between that disinformation and the ties of white supremacy,” she said. “We have long seen what was coming.”
Ocasio-Cortez has said for months that Facebook’s conservative Daily Caller newspaper in its fact-checking efforts is evidence of Zuckerberg’s sympathy for white supremacists.
“There is a very clear link here,” she insisted on Friday.
The Daily Caller rejected the Ocasio-Cortez accusations, calling them “offensive”.
“They are currently doing as much damage control as possible,” AOC said on Friday, pointing to Facebook’s decision to remove President Trump’s access to the platform after last week’s violence.
“But they knew,” she said. “And they not only knew, they allowed it.”