Meta gets rid of third-party fact-checkers

Meta announced sweeping changes to its content moderation policies on Facebook and Instagram, scrapping third-party fact-checkers and bringing in user-generated “community notes,” similar to Elon Musk’s approach on X.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the changes reflected concerns over political bias and excessive censorship on the social media platforms, which have eroded trust and suppressed diverse opinions.

He acknowledged the new policy is a “tradeoff” and might expose users to more harmful content online. Meta will also focus its AI moderation on severe violations like child exploitation, terrorism, drugs, fraud and scams while easing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender identity.

Zuckerberg’s move comes as top CEOs and businesses seek alignment with the incoming Trump administration.

The tech company and the president-elect have had their ups and downs (mostly downs). Meta banned Trump from its platforms in 2021 but reinstated him in 2023. Trump threatened Zuckerberg with life in prison. However, tensions between the two have simmered. 

The Facebook founder dined with the president-elect and donated $1 million to his inaugural fund.

Earlier this week, Meta appointed UFC President Dana White (a Trump ally) to its board, a move questioned by some people, citing his controversial past and doubts about his alignment with Meta’s values.

Meta’s content moderation changes have sparked internal backlash, with employees criticizing the move as prioritizing political appeasement over platform integrity.

One worker warned it signals a dismissal of factual accountability under the guise of free speech; another called the shift “a sad direction to take.”