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Meta is dropping independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram in favor of a system similar to X’s “community notes.”
This new approach allows users to note the accuracy of posts and effectively moderate content through crowdsourcing.
In a video shared by blog post on Tuesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the move was necessary to address concerns about bias among third-party moderators. He described the change as a step toward “returning to the roots of free speech.”
The announcement comes as Zuckerberg and other tech leaders work to strengthen ties with President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration. Trump and his allies have previously criticized Meta’s fact-checking efforts, accusing the company of censoring conservative voices.
During the press conference, Trump expressed approval of Zuckerberg’s decision, calling it a significant development. When asked if Zuckerberg’s action was influenced by Trump’s past threats, the president-elect simply replied, “Probably.”
Joel Kaplan, a key Republican figure and Meta’s new head of global affairs, acknowledged that the use of independent fact-checkers, while well-intentioned, often led to perceived censorship. He said the move to community notes was part of a broader attempt to address those criticisms.
Unsurprisingly, the change has sparked outrage from online hate speech activists who see it as a politically motivated move to align with the incoming Trump administration.
Ava Lee of advocacy group Global Witness said: “Zuckerberg’s announcement is a blatant attempt to accommodate the incoming Trump administration – with damaging consequences. She argued that presenting the decision as a defense of free speech ignores the platform’s role in enabling hate and misinformation.
An X-inspired shift
Meta’s decision mirrors Elon Musk’s introduction of X community notes. In this system, users with different viewpoints collaborate to provide context or clarification on controversial posts. Meta plans to roll out the feature in the US first, but said third-party fact-checkers will continue to be used in places like the UK and EU for now.
Concerns about self-harm and depressing content have led the Met to clarify that there will be no changes to how it handles posts promoting suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. However, fact-checking organizations such as Full Fact, which works with Meta in Europe, were quick to criticize the move. Full Fact chief executive Chris Morris called the decision “disappointing and a step backwards” and warned of global implications.
Balancing risks
In his announcement, Zuckerberg acknowledged the risks and acknowledged that the new system will involve trade-offs. “It means we catch less of the bad stuff,” he said. “But we will also reduce the number of innocent people’s posts and accounts that we delete by mistake.”
This approach contrasts sharply with regulations in the UK and Europe, where tech companies are forced to adhere to stricter standards of responsibility for the content on their platforms. For now, Meta’s shift away from moderation is limited to the US.
The changing political environment
The Meta blog post also framed the changes as an effort to reverse what it called “mission creep” in the content rules. “It is not right that things can be said on television or on the floor of Congress but not on our platforms,” the company wrote.
The changes come as tech leaders prepare for Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Several CEOs, including Zuckerberg, have met with Trump in recent weeks, and Meta reportedly gave $1 million to his inaugural fund.
The appointment of Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, as Meta’s head of global affairs was widely interpreted as a sign of the company’s changing moderation policy and political priorities. Adding to that perception, Meta recently announced that Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a close Trump ally, will be joining its board of directors.
Wider implications
Kate Klonick, law professor at St. John’s University, said the changes reflect a larger trend in platform management. “Private control of speech on these platforms is increasingly becoming a matter of policy,” she said. While companies have previously focused on developing systems to deal with harassment, hate speech and misinformation, Klonick sees a “radical return in the opposite direction” under leaders like Zuckerberg and Musk.
Meta’s change is an important moment in the ongoing debate about the balance between freedom of expression and accountability in the digital age. It remains to be seen whether this move will yield the intended results or create further controversy.
(Photo Unsplash)
See also: Meta, TikTok is facing a half-billion dollar lawsuit in Brazil over the protection of minors
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