Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced it will discontinue the use of independent fact-checkers on its platforms, replacing them with “community notes” inspired by X (formerly Twitter). The new system allows users to provide context or clarifications on posts, relying on input from diverse viewpoints.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg justified the move in a video accompanying a blog post on Tuesday, stating that third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and that Meta aims to prioritise “free expression.” Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new head of global affairs, echoed this sentiment, saying the reliance on independent moderators, while well-intentioned, had led to unnecessary censorship.
The decision has sparked criticism from online safety advocates, who argue it could exacerbate the spread of hate speech and disinformation. Ava Lee of Global Witness accused Meta of aligning with the incoming Trump administration, calling the change a “blatant attempt to curry favour” and avoid accountability for harmful content.
Meta’s current fact-checking program, introduced in 2016, flags potentially misleading posts for review by independent organizations. These posts can be labelled with additional context or deprioritized in feeds. Under the new system, community notes will initially roll out in the U.S., with Meta stating there are no immediate plans to discontinue fact-checkers in the UK or EU.
The timing of the announcement, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, has also drawn scrutiny. Meta’s leadership changes and a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund have been interpreted as signs of a strategic shift in the company’s political priorities.
