Meta Eliminates Fact-Checking Program, Scaling Back Content Moderation

FILE - Meta's logo can be seen on a sign at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Meta is ending its fact-checking program and making other changes to its content moderation policies in a move the company says is in the interest of enhancing free speech online.

Along with ending its fact-checking program, the company said it would be removing some speech restrictions on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Topics like immigration and gender identity that are frequently debated by lawmakers in Washington will see less restrictions moving forward.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the longstanding content moderation policies had strayed too far from their core mission and become overburdensome on users, leading to posts being censored or removed even when they don’t violate the rules.

“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms,” Zuckerberg said in a video posted online last week. “More specifically, we’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with Community Notes similar to X, starting in the U.S.”

The move to switch to a Community Notes system follows Elon Musk-owned X, which slashed content moderation and fact-checking staff and policies since the billionaire Tesla and SpaceX leader bought the company. Musk has proclaimed X to be a platform dedicated to free speech and has become a staunch political ally of President-elect Donald Trump, who has railed against social media companies for what he sees as political bias against him and his followers.