Meta to End Fact-Checking Program

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to the company’s social media sites. Those changes include ending its third-party fact-checking program in favor of a community notes system also used by X.

Zuckerberg stated the company will focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying policies, and restoring free expression on its platforms by getting rid of fact-checkers. Starting in the US over the coming months, Meta is replacing fact-checkers across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads with community notes provided by users. X relies on other members to add context to posts that may be misleading or incorrect.

“Meta's fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the US. The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said. He admitted changes to the way Meta filters content could mean “we’re going to catch less bad stuff,” but noted the decision will reduce the number of posts and accounts it accidentally takes down.

Zuckerberg also stated the company’s content moderation teams will be moved from California to Texas where there is less concern about the bias of their teams. It will also eliminate restrictions on topics such as immigration and gender that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse. The decision to shed the fact checkers is yet another example of Meta aligning its social media sites and board of directors with incoming President Donald Trump’s agenda.