Meta has announced the end of its fact-checking program and the lifting of speech restrictions on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Meta, in a bid to prioritize free expression. The decision comes as Meta acknowledges that its content moderation practices have been overly stringent.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in a video that the company aims to simplify policies, reduce errors, and restore free expression by eliminating fact-checkers and introducing a Community Notes system akin to X (formerly Twitter) in the U.S. The third-party fact-checking program, implemented post-2016 election, was intended to combat misinformation but has been criticized for political bias.
Meta's VP of Global Public Policy, Joel Kaplan, revealed that the company will transition to a community-driven approach for content moderation, allowing users to provide feedback through Community Notes. Kaplan emphasized the need for less restrictive rules to facilitate open discourse on sensitive topics like immigration and gender issues.
While Meta will continue to moderate content related to terrorism, illegal drugs, and child exploitation, it plans to revise its enforcement mechanisms to reduce errors in content removal. The company aims to align its policies with principles of free expression and collaborate with the incoming administration to uphold these values.
Meta's shift in approach is seen as a response to perceived pressure from governments and a desire to promote American business interests. The company also intends to personalize political content for users and focus enforcement efforts on severe violations.
