Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg holds meeting on bias allegation

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday is set to meet leading US conservatives to try to head off a storm over allegations that the social network suppressed right-leaning political viewpoints.

Mr Zuckerberg proposed the meeting after technology news outlet Gizmodo last week reported allegations that Facebook was deliberately omitting articles with conservative viewpoints from a sidebar that lists popular stories.

Facebook has denied the allegations, reportedly made by a former employee.

In a Facebook post last week, Mr Zuckerberg said he had launched a “full investigation” but no evidence had been found to back up the allegations.

Mr Zuckerberg is to meet with about a dozen conservatives including political commentator Glenn Beck and Fox News talk show host Dana Perino, a Facebook spokesperson said in the run up to the meeting.