Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed that he was “almost sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan” due to a lawsuit related to content hosted on Facebook. Speaking on the Joe Rogan Podcast, Zuckerberg highlighted the legal difficulties Meta has faced in Pakistan, particularly regarding its strict blasphemy laws. These laws impose severe penalties for content deemed offensive to religious beliefs.

Criminal proceedings

Zuckerberg recounted an incident where legal action was initiated against him over an alleged blasphemous image shared on Facebook. “There was a point at which someone was trying to get me sentenced to death in Pakistan because someone on Facebook had a drawing of Prophet Mohammed,” he said. “They sued me and opened this criminal proceeding.” However, he admitted that he was not overly concerned, stating, “I don’t know exactly where it went because I’m just not planning to go to Pakistan.”

Free speech and regulations

Zuckerberg emphasised the growing challenges for tech companies as governments worldwide enforce stricter content regulations. He noted that some nations demand the removal of content that contradicts their cultural and legal standards, creating conflicts with free speech principles. He also urged the US government to support American tech firms facing legal threats abroad.