Meta to replace fact-checking with community-driven system amid election concerns

In January 2025, Meta Platforms, Inc., under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, declared it would phase out its existing fact-checking program across its major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This significant decision came in the wake of the recent elections in the United States, which Zuckerberg described as a 'cultural tipping point.' The move aims to prioritize free expression and community-driven moderation over the previously employed fact-checking mechanisms, which had been criticized for their perceived biases and excessive mistakes. The original fact-checking initiative was launched in 2016, catalyzed by growing concerns over misinformation and the role of social media in disseminating false information during the U.S. presidential election. Despite expanding its fact-checking efforts to include numerous organizations working globally, Meta faced backlash over the program's performance. Problems included unnecessary censorship, delays in response, and numerous mistaken enforcement actions, contributing to user frustrations. Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, acknowledged these concerns and stated that the organization aims to simplify its policies to enhance user experience. Zuckerberg's announcement indicated that the shift towards community notes is intended to emulate aspects of Elon Musk's approach with X (formerly Twitter), which also granted users greater power to label and provide context for misleading posts. This transition signals a broader trend in social media governance that seeks to realign with foundational principles of open expression and community engagement. The change is further emphasized by the company's decision to focus enforcement on severe violations concerning illegal content, child exploitation, fraud, and terrorism while relaxing restrictions on topics significant in mainstream discourse. The company's board also saw changes, including the appointment of former UFC CEO Dana White, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump. This action, along with Meta's financial contributions to Trump’s inaugural committee, has raised various discussions around the company's political affiliations and the implications for its policy changes. The new approach to content moderation is outlined as a trial for fostering a more trustworthy environment, with expectations that it could reduce bias associated with traditional fact-checking. However, it remains to be seen how effectively the community notes system will function and whether it can address concerns about misinformation without falling into the traps of bias or misinformation itself.