In 2012, Meta bought Instagram for $1 billion and later launched Threads, a competitor to Musk’s platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2023.
All three Meta-owned platforms are preparing to relax their moderation policies by eliminating third-party fact-checking within the United States.
The fact-checking initiative by Meta began in 2016, involving third-party organizations to verify posts suspected of being false or misleading.
These posts are then labeled with additional context and information.
Zuckerberg explained in a video update that the system is being removed to promote ‘free expression’.
Meta is transitioning to a Community Notes system similar to X, where users can mark content as false or misleading.
He stated that the choice was aimed at ‘restoring free expression’ on its platforms and reducing errors caused by automated moderation systems, which Meta believes sometimes led to censorship, with some fact-checkers accused of bias.
Outside of the US, fact-checking practices will continue as usual.
Full Fact, a fact-checking organization working with Facebook in Europe, criticized Meta’s move as a ‘backwards step’.
Chris Morris, their chief executive, commented: “We absolutely refute Meta’s charge of bias – we are strictly impartial, fact check claims from all political stripes with equal rigour, and hold those in power to account through our commitment to truth.
Like Meta, fact checkers are committed to promoting free speech based on good information without resorting to censorship. But locking fact checkers out of the conversation won’t help society to turn the tide on rapidly rising misinformation.”
The Community Notes system was initially launched on X in 2021 and gained more traction after Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2023.
This system enables users who participate in the program to address potentially controversial posts by providing clarifications and context in a separate box.
Users can then vote on the usefulness of these annotations.
Musk, known for his advocacy of ‘free speech’, has commented on Zuckerberg’s moderation adjustments.
He posted a screenshot from his X profile of a Free Speech Union article titled: “Facebook dumps fact-checkers in attempt to ‘restore’ free speech,” with the simple remark: “This is cool.”
These changes at Meta come shortly before President-elect Donald Trump, who had previously criticized Meta’s fact-checking policy, assumes office. Trump had even once threatened Zuckerberg with life imprisonment.
At a news conference, Trump remarked: “Honestly, I think they have come a long way, Meta, Facebook.”
When asked if Zuckerberg’s actions were a direct response to Trump’s past threats, the incoming president replied: “Probably”.