<p class="title">Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Monday confirmed reports that he had hosted a series of dinners with right-wing figures, as the social media platform stands accused of stifling conservative voices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zuckerberg held small, off-the-record dinners with journalists, commentators and at least one Republican lawmaker to talk about free speech, partnerships and other issues, the Politico news website said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's some press today discussing dinners I've had with conservative politicians, media and thinkers," Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Meeting new people and hearing from a wide range of viewpoints is part of learning. If you haven't tried it, I suggest you do!"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Politico said that guests at recent events, held at Zuckerberg's various homes in California, included Fox News host Tucker Carlson, radio talk host Hugh Hewitt and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.</p>.<p class="bodytext">US President Donald Trump has often complained that social media outlets discriminate against him and his supporters, without providing evidence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Politico said the dinners, which began in July, were part of Zuckerberg's efforts to communicate with conservatives amid the accusations from Trump and his allies of bias.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms have been under pressure to reduce the spread of lies and misinformation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the platforms have also allowed politicians including Trump leeway over their user rules, seeking to avoid quashing debate and to keep "newsworthy" content online.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden recently asked Facebook to take down "debunked" claims in a Trump ad, only to be rebuffed.</p>
<p class="title">Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Monday confirmed reports that he had hosted a series of dinners with right-wing figures, as the social media platform stands accused of stifling conservative voices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zuckerberg held small, off-the-record dinners with journalists, commentators and at least one Republican lawmaker to talk about free speech, partnerships and other issues, the Politico news website said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There's some press today discussing dinners I've had with conservative politicians, media and thinkers," Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Meeting new people and hearing from a wide range of viewpoints is part of learning. If you haven't tried it, I suggest you do!"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Politico said that guests at recent events, held at Zuckerberg's various homes in California, included Fox News host Tucker Carlson, radio talk host Hugh Hewitt and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.</p>.<p class="bodytext">US President Donald Trump has often complained that social media outlets discriminate against him and his supporters, without providing evidence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Politico said the dinners, which began in July, were part of Zuckerberg's efforts to communicate with conservatives amid the accusations from Trump and his allies of bias.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms have been under pressure to reduce the spread of lies and misinformation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the platforms have also allowed politicians including Trump leeway over their user rules, seeking to avoid quashing debate and to keep "newsworthy" content online.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden recently asked Facebook to take down "debunked" claims in a Trump ad, only to be rebuffed.</p>