Meta Halts US Fact-Checking Ahead of Trump Administration

“We’re eliminating fact-checkers that have been too politically biased,” says CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Social media giant Meta announced on Tuesday a significant shift in its content moderation policies, including the termination of its US fact-checking program.

The move aligns with the priorities of incoming President Donald Trump.

“We’re eliminating fact-checkers that have been too politically biased and have eroded more trust than they’ve built, especially in the US,” Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in a post. He added that Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, would now implement community-driven notes similar to those used on X (formerly Twitter).

This decision reflects longstanding criticisms from Trump’s Republican Party and X owner Elon Musk, who have accused fact-checking programs of acting as censorship tools.

Conservatives argue that these initiatives disproportionately target right-wing voices, prompting proposed state laws in Florida and Texas to curtail content moderation practices.

Zuckerberg emphasized that “recent elections mark a cultural tipping point towards prioritizing free speech over moderation.”

Rebuilding Ties with Trump

The announcement comes as Zuckerberg works to mend relations with Trump following his November election victory. This effort has included a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund and a November dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Trump has criticized Meta and Zuckerberg for years, alleging bias against him.

In another nod to the Trump administration, Meta recently appointed Joel Kaplan, a former Republican official, to lead public affairs. Kaplan replaces Nick Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister.

Meta Overhauls Content Moderation

Meta’s broader restructuring includes relocating its trust and safety teams from California to Texas, a move Zuckerberg claims will build trust by placing these teams in more politically balanced environments.

The company has also reversed its 2021 decision to reduce political content across its platforms.

Instead, users will have greater control over the volume of political content they see on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Criticism of EU Regulations

Zuckerberg criticized the European Union for its stringent content moderation laws, which he argues stifle innovation.

He pledged to collaborate with Trump to counteract foreign governments’ attempts to impose stricter censorship on American companies.

Transition to Community Notes

Meta’s adoption of Community Notes represents a shift toward collaborative moderation.

Similar to X’s system, Community Notes allow users to add context to posts through a consensus-driven process.

This move marks a departure from traditional top-down moderation practices.

This system will now be replaced by the Community Notes approach.