The American tech company Meta has announced it will end its collaboration with fact-checkers in the United States, as stated by owner Mark Zuckerberg today. Instead, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will adopt a system allowing other users to comment on potentially misleading content.
This user-comment-based system is similar to Community Notes from X, where users can provide feedback on potentially misleading posts, moving away from professional fact-checkers. The company ended its collaboration with experts, including journalists from major international news agencies, due to what Zuckerberg describes as “political bias.” Zuckerberg stated in a video message that “fact-checkers have done more harm than good to trust.” He also mentioned plans to change moderation policies on topics like immigration and gender, aiming for fewer restrictions.
Zuckerberg noted that the recent elections in the US significantly influenced his decision, viewing them as a cultural turning point to emphasize free speech. These changes will impact Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, which collectively have billions of users globally.
Zuckerberg plans to implement these adjustments in the coming months. The implications of this decision for Meta’s platforms in Europe remain unclear.
Source: NOS