• Meta is replacing its U.S. fact-checking program with a community-based system, marking a significant policy shift.
• The decision follows the appointment of Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan and UFC CEO Dana White to key positions.
• Critics argue this move is a step back for content moderation, while others welcome the change.
• Meta's new system will allow users to flag misleading posts, shifting the responsibility from independent fact-checkers to the community.

In a significant policy shift, Meta, the social media behemoth, announced on Tuesday that it would be replacing its U.S. fact-checking program with a community-based system similar to X. This move marks a departure from Meta's long-standing policy of active content moderation, a policy that CEO Mark Zuckerberg has staunchly defended despite criticism from conservatives who allege censorship on its platforms.

The decision comes on the heels of the company's appointment of Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan as global affairs head and the election of Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and a close friend of President-elect Donald Trump, to its board. "We've reached a point where it's just too many mistakes and too much censorship. It's time to get back to our roots around free expression," Zuckerberg said in a video. He further added that the company would focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying policies, and restoring free expression on its platforms.

The fact-checking program, which was initiated in 2016, took some partner organizations by surprise. Jesse Stiller, managing editor at Check Your Fact, expressed shock at the move, stating that it would definitely affect them. Other partners, including Reuters, AFP, and USA Today, did not immediately respond but Meta's independent Oversight Board welcomed the move.

Meta's New Approach and Its Implications

The changes will impact Facebook, Instagram, and Threads - three of the largest social media platforms with over 3 billion users worldwide. Zuckerberg has recently expressed regret over certain content moderation actions on topics including COVID-19. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, a departure from its past practice.

Critics of the move, such as Ross Burley, co-founder for non-profit Centre for Information Resilience, argue that this is a major step back for content moderation at a time when disinformation and harmful content are evolving faster than ever. He suggests that the move seems more about political appeasement than smart policy.

The success of the move, however, remains to be seen. Elon Musk's X is already under European Commission investigation over the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, and the effectiveness of measures taken to combat information manipulation, including the Community Notes system. The Commission launched the probe in December 2023, several months after X launched the community notes feature.

The Future of Content Moderation

Meta plans to phase in Community Notes in the U.S. over the next few months and improve the model over the year. This system will allow users to call out posts that are potentially misleading and need more context, rather than placing the responsibility on independent fact-checking organizations and experts. Meta will not decide which Community Notes show up on posts. Linda Yaccarino, X CEO, praised the move, predicting that other platforms would follow suit.

In addition to these changes, Meta will also shift its trust and safety teams overseeing content policies and review content out of California to Texas and other U.S. locations. The company plans to focus its automated systems on illegal and high-severity violations, including terrorism and drugs.