Meta will get rid of independent fact-checkers on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, and will replace them with “community notes” posted by users, Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s Chief Executive announced on Tuesday.
In a video message, Zuckerberg said that third-party fact-checkers were “too politically biased” and it was time to “get back to our roots around free expression.” He added that the change “will dramatically reduce the amount of censorship” as Meta will recommend more political content on its platforms.
The move comes just days before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office. In his video message, Zuckerberg vowed to prioritize free speech after the return of Trump to the White House.
Trump and his Republican allies have criticized Meta for its fact-checking policy, calling it censorship of right-wing voices.
Speaking after the changes were announced, Trump told a news conference that he was impressed by Zuckerberg’s decision. Asked whether Zuckerberg was “directly responding” to threats Trump had made against him in the past, the incoming US president responded: “Probably.”
Meta notified Trump’s team of the policy change before the announcement, the New York Times reported.
In his video message announcing the changes on Meta’s platforms, Zuckerberg vowed to prioritize free speech after the return of Trump to the White House.
How will the community notes system work
Starting in the United States, Meta will replace fact-checkers with “community notes,” with no immediate plans to do the same in the UK and Europe. The American multinational technology conglomerate is copying the new community notes system from X (formerly Twitter), which introduced it after being bought and renamed by Elon Musk.
The community notes system involves people of different viewpoints agreeing on notes that add context or clarifications to controversial posts.
After concerns were raised around self-harm and depressive content, Meta clarified that there would be “no change to how we treat content that encourages suicide, self-injury and eating disorders.”
Meta gets rid of fact-checkers
Meta notified Trump’s team of the policy change before the announcement, the New York Times reported.
Criticism of Meta’s decision to replace fact-checkers already
Fact-checking organization Full Fact, which is part of Facebook’s program verifying posts in Europe, said it “refutes allegations of bias” made against its profession.
Chris Morris, the organization’s chief executive, described the change as “a disappointing and a backward step that risks a chilling effect around the world.”
Alongside content moderators, fact-checkers sometimes describe themselves as the internet’s emergency services. But Meta bosses have concluded that they are intervening too much.
“Too much harmless content gets censored,” Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican who is replacing Sir Nick Clegg as Meta’s global affairs chief, wrote on Tuesday. “Too many people find themselves wrongly locked up in ‘Facebook Jail’ and we are often too slow to respond when they do.”
(Greek Reporter)
