Meta announces shift in content moderation, ending use of fact-checkers

Meta is making major changes to its content moderation policies on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, eliminating third-party fact-checkers and replacing them with user-generated “community notes,” similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, explained that the company had become increasingly concerned with the political bias of fact-checkers, which he believes undermined trust, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

He acknowledged that while the new policy might lead to more harmful content appearing on the platforms, it would reduce unnecessary censorship.

Zuckerberg's decision comes at a time when the company is facing increasing pressure from conservatives, particularly with the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Some right-wing voices have long accused Meta of suppressing their opinions. The new approach aims to reduce political bias and foster free expression, with Zuckerberg citing the recent US election as a turning point in prioritizing free speech.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief of Global Affairs, highlighted that partnerships with fact-checkers, though well-intentioned, had become too politically skewed. This shift aligns with Meta’s broader ideological shift, seen in its recent appointments, including UFC CEO Dana White to its board and plans to donate to Trump’s inaugural fund. Kaplan noted that the new administration’s commitment to free expression had created an opportunity for Meta to alter its policies.

The company also plans to scale back its automated content moderation systems, focusing only on “high-severity” violations like terrorism and fraud, instead of policing less harmful content. Meta will remove restrictions on topics such as immigration and gender identity, and will allow more political content to appear in users’ feeds. While Zuckerberg admits the new policies could result in more harmful content slipping through, he believes they will also reduce errors and unjustified censorship.

The move is a striking reversal of Meta’s past efforts to combat disinformation, which included the launch of fact-checking programs in 2016. Meta now follows X's model of allowing users to correct content, marking a significant shift in content moderation across social media platforms.

By Vafa Guliyeva