Meta has announced a significant shift in its content moderation strategy by replacing third-party fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram with “community notes,” a user-driven system similar to the one implemented by X.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that external moderators had become “politically biased” and that the company is returning to its “commitment” to free expression.
The change, which will first roll out in the US, comes amid efforts to mend relations with President-elect Donald Trump, who has long criticised Meta’s fact-checking policies as censorship. The move has sparked concern among anti-hate speech groups, with some accusing Meta of pandering to political pressure. Global Witness called the announcement a “dangerous retreat from accountability”, warning that it could foster “disinformation” and harmful content.
Critics argue that this shift marks a step backward, especially as the EU and UK are tightening regulations to make tech platforms more accountable for harmful content.
Fact-checking organisation Full Fact rejected claims of bias, describing Meta’s decision as a “disappointing reversal” that risks global implications.
Meta insists that the change will reduce wrongful censorship and improve transparency, although Zuckerberg acknowledged the trade-off of potentially allowing more “misinformation”.
The timing of the policy overhaul, just ahead of Trump’s inauguration, has led to further scrutiny of Meta’s political motivations. The appointment of Trump ally Joel Kaplan as Meta’s global affairs chief and the addition of UFC president Dana White to the board further signal a shift in Meta’s governance and political alignment.
