Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a major shift in the company's operations, revealing plans to phase out its third-party fact-checking program in favor of an in-house approach. The transition, set to begin this year, aims to promote greater flexibility and align with the company's emphasis on free speech.
Zuckerberg noted that the decision was influenced by Elon Musk's changes on the rival platform X, formerly Twitter, which introduced Community Notes as an in-house fact-checking system for users.
Meta Shuts Down Third-Party Fact-Checking In Favor of In-House
In a blog post featuring a video message from Zuckerberg, Meta outlined its plans for restructuring its fact-checking efforts. The company intends to discontinue reliance on third-party organizations, opting instead for what it described as a "more personalized approach" to moderation and free expression.
The changes will roll out in the United States first, with Meta relaxing restrictions on certain topics previously deemed violations of its Community Guidelines. Zuckerberg emphasized that the platform will redirect enforcement efforts toward "illegal and high-severity violations," ensuring public safety while allowing broader discourse.
The company acknowledged past instances of users being wrongly penalized for harmless content, often referred to as "Facebook jail." With the new system, Meta aims to reduce unnecessary censorship and focus on fostering an open environment for communication.
Zuckerberg: Meta Inspired by X's Community Notes
Zuckerberg credited X's Community Notes feature as a key inspiration for Meta's new approach. He criticized third-party fact-checkers for their alleged political bias, which he said had contributed to censorship issues.
"We've seen this approach work on X, where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context," Zuckerberg said. "People from diverse perspectives decide what kind of context is helpful for other users to see."
Meta Fact Checking and Community Guidelines
Over the years, Meta has maintained stringent Community Guidelines to curate a safe and inclusive platform. Before the end of 2024, the company expanded its Strike Removal feature to Instagram, providing users and creators with greater leniency for minor or first-time violations.
The latest shift toward in-house fact-checking is seen by some as a politically motivated move. Analysts have noted the timing aligns with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Last year, Meta reinstated Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram, and Zuckerberg met with Trump following his election victory.
Meta's new approach, modeled after X's Community Notes, signals a strategic pivot aimed at enhancing free speech while retaining control over content moderation. Zuckerberg's announcement marks the beginning of what he described as a "new era" for the company's social media platforms.
