Meta Ends Fact-Checking Program, Adopts Crowdsourced Moderation Model

Mark Zuckerberg announces a shift to a Community Notes system, mirroring X, as Meta scales back content moderation and aligns with the incoming Trump administration.

• Meta will replace its third-party fact-checking program on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads with a Community Notes system, citing concerns over political bias in previous efforts.
• The new approach allows users to collaboratively add context to posts, similar to the model used by X (formerly Twitter), and will initially roll out in the United States.
• Meta plans to loosen restrictions on politically sensitive topics like immigration and gender identity, while focusing content moderation efforts on severe violations such as terrorism and child exploitation.
• The decision comes ahead of Donald Trump's second inauguration, with Meta's recent moves, including a $1 million donation to Trump's inaugural fund, seen by many as efforts to align with the incoming administration.
• Fact-checking organizations, heavily reliant on Meta funding, express concerns over financial viability, while critics warn of increased misinformation and reduced accountability on Meta's platforms.