Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Tuesday a dramatic policy shift, including ending its US fact-checking program. The move aligns with the priorities of President-elect Donald Trump and signals a shift toward less content moderation.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement, acknowledged that the fact-checking program had eroded trust, particularly in the US, due to perceptions of political bias. Instead, Meta plans to implement “community notes,” a feature similar to the system used on X (formerly Twitter).
Critics, including many conservatives, have long argued that fact-checking disproportionately targets right-leaning voices, leading to accusations of censorship. States like Florida and Texas have proposed laws to curtail content moderation practices by social media platforms.
Zuckerberg framed the decision as part of a broader cultural shift: “Recent elections highlight a turning point—prioritizing free speech over heavy-handed moderation.”
The announcement comes amidst Zuckerberg’s efforts to repair ties with Trump, a vocal critic of Meta. Trump, banned from Facebook after the January 6 Capitol riots, had his account reinstated earlier this year. Since Trump’s November election victory, Zuckerberg has taken steps to strengthen relations, including donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and dining with him at Mar-a-Lago.
In another significant move, Meta appointed Joel Kaplan, a former Republican official, as its new head of public affairs. Kaplan criticized excessive censorship on the platform, promising a balanced approach moving forward.
Meta’s policy shift underscores a pivot toward deregulation and appeasement of conservative voices, reshaping the social media landscape.
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