Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center (MRC), has praised Facebook for returning to its “neutral roots” following the publication of the social network’s internal investigation into allegations of progressive bias in its Trending News team.
“I think this is a good step. Facebook was relying on a preponderance of liberal and leftist ‘news’ organs. By not relying on any specific news outlets, Facebook returns to its neutral roots” claimed Bozell in a statement. “This is good for everyone on that platform.”
Bozell previously criticised Breitbart for our criticism of Facebook’s meeting with conservatives last week, calling Breitbart Tech editor Milo Yiannopoulos “silly” and “an embarrassment to Breitbart” in response to a question about Faebbok on Fox’s Cavuto Coast to Coast show.
Bozell also attacked Breitbart on Twitter, writing “Breitbart is off the deep end and self important. Not Breitbart news anymore. More like SelfieNews.”
In a comment to The New York Times, Breitbart executive chairman Stephen K. Bannon took a contrary stance to Bozell.
“It comes as no surprise that Facebook did an internal investigation and declared itself innocent” said Bannon. “We don’t need more dissembling, photo ops, or happy talk.”
It’s a stance shared by American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp, who said Facebook’s investigation merely “scratched the surface” of political bias at the company, and called on Congress to conduct its own scrutiny of the social network.
Several conservative attendees of the Facebook meeting have been criticised for sucking up to the social network and taking photograph’s by the company’s famous “Facebook Wall”. The Blaze founder and meeting attendee Glenn Beck was also attacked by fellow attendee Tucker Carlson, editor-in-chief of the Daily Caller, for “sucking up” to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“I went to that meeting expecting Beck to cry, rend his garments while quoting James Madison, but that’s not at all what happened. He began the most extended assiduous suck-up I think I’ve ever seen a grown man commit. He acted like he was auditioning to be Mark Zuckerberg’s manservant — it was awe-inspiring” said Carlson, and Beck has since defended both Facebook and Zuckerberg on numerous occasions.
“They were humble, open, and listened intently to everyone in the room” said Beck. “Mark [Zuckerberg] looks a man in the eye”.
Despite the efforts of some conservative commentators to defend Facebook’s good intentions, reports of the company’s bias against right-wingers continue to accumulate. Since Facebook’s meeting with conservatives, a Trump-supporting Facebook admin was banned without explanation, whilst Canadian libertarian commentator Lauren Southern was also banned for defending him.
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