Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that the company will be ending its fact-checking program and replacing it with a community-driven model similar to Elon Musk’s approach on X.
This decision, Zuckerberg explained, stems from the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which he described as a “cultural tipping point” that emphasizes the importance of free speech.
In a video message, Zuckerberg revealed that the shift will affect Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which collectively boast billions of users.
“We’re going to move away from fact-checkers and introduce a system called community notes, like the one used by X, starting with the U.S.,” he stated.
The change comes as Zuckerberg acknowledged that the current moderation systems in place on Meta platforms have been prone to errors.
Meta’s fact-checking program, launched in 2016 to combat misinformation, was a response to growing concerns about Facebook’s role in spreading false information during the 2016 U.S. election.
By 2023, the program had expanded to include nearly 100 organizations across more than 60 languages globally.
Despite the shift, Meta will continue to monitor content related to critical issues like drugs, terrorism, child exploitation, fraud, and scams.
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, also emphasized that the trust and safety content moderation team will relocate from California to Texas and other U.S. locations.
Kaplan expressed optimism about the community-driven approach, citing its success on X, where users can help flag misleading posts and provide additional context.
“This method allows people with diverse perspectives to decide what context should accompany potentially misleading content,” Kaplan said.
“We believe this approach will more effectively fulfill our goal of informing users while minimizing bias.”
Meta’s new system, dubbed “Community Notes,” is expected to roll out over the next two months, with continued refinement throughout the year.
Under this model, content flagged by users will no longer be automatically demoted, but will be accompanied by a more discreet label that links to additional information.
The announcement of this shift came a day after Meta disclosed that former UFC CEO Dana White, a known ally of President-elect Donald Trump, would join its board.
The timing is notable, as Meta is working to repair its relationship with Trump’s administration, especially after Facebook banned him following the events of January 6, 2021.
Industry analysts have pointed out that Meta’s new direction could appeal to conservatives, many of whom have criticized the platform for censoring speech.
However, the move is expected to raise concerns among liberals and advertisers. According to Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at research firm Emarketer, the decision indicates Zuckerberg’s willingness to align Meta more closely with Trump’s administration, particularly as he seeks to regain conservative support.
