Meta ends fact-checking program, introduces 'Community Notes' system

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has revealed a significant policy shift regarding content moderation on its platforms. The company is ending its fact-checking program in the United States and replacing it with a new initiative called 'Community Notes.' This approach is similar to the one adopted by X (formerly Twitter) after its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022, when he dissolved the platform's fact-checking team.

Meta introduced its fact-checking program in 2016 as a response to concerns about the spread of misinformation. The initiative was launched following widespread criticism of fake news circulating on Facebook during the US presidential election. Over the years, the program expanded to include nearly 100 organizations operating in more than 60 languages. Meta officially confirmed this in a statement issued in 2023.

Under the new model, Meta is encouraging users to play a more active role in content moderation. Users will now have the ability to identify misinformation or misleading content in posts and add relevant context or clarifications. This shift aims to reduce reliance on independent fact-checking organizations and experts, empowering the community to take a more prominent role in the fact-checking process.

Meta's decision to overhaul its fact-checking system comes just before Donald Trump's potential return to power. Republican critics had previously accused fact-checkers of censoring conservative viewpoints. Since Trump's second presidential campaign, Meta has made efforts to strengthen its relationship with him. Recently, Trump’s ally Dana White joined Meta's board, and the company announced a $1 million donation to support Trump’s inauguration.

In a video posted on January 7, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would prioritize freedom of expression by replacing fact-checkers with the 'Community Notes' system. He explained that the new policies would simplify content moderation and focus on curbing misinformation. Zuckerberg also noted that these changes would result in more political content appearing on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with Meta actively recommending such content.

Zuckerberg criticized fact-checkers, stating, "Fact-checkers have become politically biased and have done more to diminish trust than foster it. They’ve stifled free speech and people's opinions, which goes against our mission."

Meta will stop demoting fact-checked content. Instead, the company will now add a label to posts, notifying users that additional information is available. Full-screen warnings blocking access to posts, as seen previously, will no longer be used.

Meta has stated that the 'Community Notes' system will be phased in over the coming months and will be progressively enhanced.