Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently opened up about a legal dispute in Pakistan, where he faced a lawsuit over content deemed blasphemous on Facebook, underscoring the challenges tech companies face in navigating differing legal frameworks across the globe.
In a candid interview with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg shared the details of the case, explaining how laws in some countries clash with the free speech principles upheld by American tech firms, creating tension around content regulation. “There are laws in different countries that we disagree with. For example, in Pakistan, someone tried to get me sentenced to death because a post on Facebook showed a drawing of Prophet Mohammed. They argued it was blasphemy under their culture, and they filed a lawsuit, initiating a criminal proceeding against me. I don’t know where it ended, since I had no intention of going to Pakistan, so I wasn’t overly concerned about it,” Zuckerberg explained.
He acknowledged that while the situation was unsettling, particularly for his personal safety, he was less worried about the legal outcome. “It was a bit disconcerting—like, okay, you don’t want to fly over that region and risk problems if this case actually goes through. But it felt avoidable,” Zuckerberg added.
Expanding on the broader implications, Zuckerberg noted the growing pressure on global tech companies as governments push for stricter content regulation. “There are places in the world with values that conflict with our commitment to free expression. These governments want us to ban much more content than we believe is appropriate. The power they wield to threaten criminal charges or imprisonment is immense. This is something the US government will likely need to step in to help defend American tech companies from,” he stated.
Earlier in January, Zuckerberg revealed Meta’s shift away from its previous fact-checking system on Facebook and Instagram, announcing the adoption of a “community notes” model akin to Elon Musk’s approach with X. He explained that the previous system had resulted in “too many mistakes and too much censorship” and had become “too politically biased.”
Zuckerberg’s interview also touched on his recent meeting with former President Donald Trump following the 2024 US presidential election. Meta contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, joining other major tech companies in supporting the event. Zuckerberg was also present at Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
