Meta to End Fact-Checker & Restore Free Speech

Meta, formerly Facebook, announced on 7 January that it will replace third-party fact-checkers with a Community Notes system similar to the one used on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Framing the shift as a move to promote "free expression," Meta also plans to lift restrictions on mainstream political topics, refocusing enforcement on "illegal and high-severity violations."

According to Meta's blog post:

“In recent years we've developed increasingly complex systems to manage content across our platforms, partly in response to societal and political pressure to moderate content. This approach has gone too far.”

It added:

“[T]hey have expanded over time to the point where we are making too many mistakes, frustrating our users and too often getting in the way of the free expression we set out to enable.”

The update will apply across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, impacting billions of users.

This transition mirrors the approach Elon Musk introduced on X after acquiring the platform in 2023, raising questions about the evolving role of content moderation in social media.

Meta noted:

“We've seen this approach work on X – where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see.”

Mixed Reactions Amidst Zuckerberg's Announcement

Musk praised Meta's policy shift as "cool."

Others agree it marks progress for the platform as well.

However, not everyone shares this view.

On Bluesky, entrepreneur Mark Cuban accused Meta of aligning with President-elect Donald Trump, a vocal advocate for free speech.

He also speculated that the company might leverage unfiltered content to advance its AI initiatives.

Cuban, a strong supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has been vocal in his criticism of Trump and his influence on social media policies.

Is the Decision a Coincidence or Result of the Private Meeting with Trump?

Last month, Zuckerberg donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, just weeks after a private meeting with the President-elect at Mar-a-Lago.

The timing has sparked speculation about his potential influence on the incoming administration, particularly regarding tech policy.

In his recent video, Zuckerberg referenced working with Trump, further fuelling questions:

“Finally, we're going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies to censor more."

Is his pledge to restore free expression merely a strategic shift, or did their meeting play a pivotal role?

Regardless, Meta concluded in its blog post:

“These changes are an attempt to return to the commitment to free expression that Mark Zuckerberg set out in his Georgetown speech. That means being vigilant about the impact our policies and systems are having on people's ability to make their voices heard, and having the humility to change our approach when we know we're getting things wrong.”