Meta has announced that it will dismantle its fact-checking programme, marking a significant change in the company’s approach to content moderation.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg revealed the decision in a video on Tuesday, stating that the company would instead implement a system allowing users to add context to posts, similar to the Community Notes feature used by Elon Musk’s X, according to Washington Post.
Zuckerberg attributed the change to errors made by the fact-checking team and criticism of the programme as a form of censorship.
He described the move as a return to Meta’s roots of prioritising free expression, citing a cultural tipping point following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
“We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.
“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritising speech. So we are going to get back to our roots, focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.”
The new policy will focus on addressing illegal content and high-severity violations while lifting restrictions on controversial topics.
This decision comes amid broader efforts by social media companies to align with the incoming Republican administration.
Meta recently appointed Republican figures, including Joel Kaplan and Dana White, to senior positions and has taken steps to mend relations with President Trump, including a $1 million donation to his inauguration committee.
The announcement also reflects a shift in the tech industry, as platforms ease content moderation policies and face scrutiny from a Republican-controlled Congress.
Fact-checking organisations that relied on Meta’s funding expressed surprise at the decision.
Many noted the impact this could have on efforts to combat misinformation, as Meta was a key supporter of independent fact-checking groups.
Critics of the move argue that relying on user-generated notes may not be sufficient to address the spread of false information on the platform.
The new community notes system will roll out gradually throughout 2025, with Meta describing it as a way to encourage diverse perspectives while avoiding allegations of bias.
