Internal emails reveal Facebook's deliberation on Sacha Baron Cohen's suggestions

Newly unsealed court documents reveal that Facebook's leadership engaged in internal discussions about comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's suggestions for combating fake news in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cohen sent an email to then-COO Sheryl Sandberg proposing Facebook follow Google's example with truth labels and anti-radicalization messages.

He also suggested classifying Holocaust denial as misinformation and creating a "Michelin Guide for the Web" for trustworthy sites. Sandberg forwarded the proposal to Facebook's leadership, inquiring about faster action or more credit compared to Google. While several executives agreed on including Holocaust denial, CEO Mark Zuckerberg dissented, sparking debate on the company's role in defining truth.

The discussions emerged as part of New Mexico's lawsuit against Cambridge Analytica, where Meta was found liable for consumer protection law violations. The trial could cost Meta over $200 billion and marks the first time a jury has ruled against the company in a Cambridge Analytica-related case.

Despite Facebook later implementing external fact-checkers and labeling false posts, Holocaust denial remained online. Sandberg testified that Zuckerberg viewed it as hate speech, yet permitted it when framed as a "historical hoax," highlighting internal inconsistencies in the company's content moderation policies.