Meta Platforms, the social media company led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has made significant changes to its approach to managing political content on its services. The company has decided to discontinue its U.S. fact-checking program and loosen restrictions on discussions related to contentious topics like immigration and gender identity. These moves have been seen as a response to criticism from conservatives, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump is set to begin his second term in office.
This marks Meta’s most substantial overhaul of its political content management strategy in recent history. The changes will impact three of the world’s largest social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and Threads – which collectively have over 3 billion users worldwide. Meta’s recent appointments of Joel Kaplan as global affairs head and Dana White to its board, who is a close ally of Trump, further underline the company’s efforts to rebuild relationships with the incoming administration.
In a video statement, Zuckerberg emphasized the need to prioritize free expression and reduce censorship on the platforms. He mentioned that recent events, particularly the U.S. elections, have prompted a reevaluation of the company’s approach to speech on its services. Instead of a formal fact-checking program, Meta will introduce a system of “community notes” for addressing misleading information. The company will focus its automated systems on removing high-severity violations and illegal content, such as terrorism and illicit drugs.
Zuckerberg also mentioned that Meta will no longer proactively scan for hate speech and rule-breaking content but will review such posts based on user reports. Furthermore, the safety teams overseeing content policies and review will be relocated from California to Texas. While specific details about the move were not provided, a Meta spokesperson declined to comment on any potential biases or errors made by fact-checkers.
The decision to end the fact-checking program has surprised partner organizations involved in the initiative. Some have expressed concern about the impact this change will have on their work. The head of the International Fact-Checking Network defended the role of fact-checkers in adding context and debunking misinformation, emphasizing the principles of nonpartisanship and transparency followed by these organizations.
Overall, the changes made by Meta Platforms have stirred reactions within the fact-checking and journalism communities. While some partners have expressed disappointment, others are still assessing the situation. The company’s independent Oversight Board has welcomed the move. Zuckerberg’s recent statements reflect a shift in the company’s content moderation approach, indicating a renewed focus on enabling free expression while addressing harmful content on its platforms.
D-19. Meta has made headlines by donating $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, a departure from its previous practices. Ross Burley, co-founder of the non-profit Centre for Information Resilience, expressed concerns about this move, stating, “This is a major step back for content moderation at a time when disinformation and harmful content are evolving faster than ever. This decision appears to be more about political appeasement than sound policy.”
Currently, Meta is focusing on implementing these changes within the U.S. market, with no immediate plans to discontinue its fact-checking program in regions like the European Union, which have a more proactive stance on regulating tech companies. A spokesperson informed Reuters that Meta’s decision-making process is not solely driven by political motives but is part of a broader strategy.
In response to Meta’s recent actions, former President Trump praised the company, particularly its co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, saying, “They have come a long way – Meta. The man (Zuckerberg) was very impressive.” Trump suggested that Zuckerberg’s decision to end fact-checking may have been influenced by threats directed at him.
Meanwhile, Musk’s company, X, is facing scrutiny from the European Commission for its handling of illegal content within the EU and the efficacy of measures implemented to combat misinformation, including the “Community Notes” system. The Commission initiated an investigation in December 2023, following the launch of this feature by X. A spokesperson for the Commission acknowledged Meta’s recent announcement and confirmed ongoing monitoring of the company’s compliance in the EU.
The Digital Services Act of the European Union, which became effective in 2023, imposes obligations on major online platforms, such as X and Facebook, to address illegal content and threats to public security. This legislation mandates specific guidelines for content moderation, user privacy, and transparency, with potential fines of up to 6% of a company’s global revenue for non-compliance.
Meta has revealed plans to gradually introduce Community Notes in the U.S. over the coming months and refine the model throughout the year. This new feature will empower users to flag potentially misleading posts that require additional context, shifting the responsibility away from independent fact-checking organizations and experts. Meta clarified that it will not interfere with the inclusion of Community Notes on posts across its platforms.
Contributing to this report were Katie Paul in New York, Deborah Sophia and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, and Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, with additional insights from Helen Coster in New York. The editing was overseen by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Arun Koyyur, Tasim Zahid, and Bill Berkrot.
