Meta’s new fact-checking strategy: Let the crowd call the shots

In a significant shift, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced it will eliminate traditional fact-checking protocols, opting instead for a community notes system. This change, as explained by CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, is intended to prioritize free speech over content policing. Zuckerberg, who spoke in a company video, remarked that existing fact-checkers had become "too politically biased," damaging more trust than they created, especially across the United States.

A report by ABC News claims the company's approach is expected to be more permissive, particularly when dealing with contentious topics like immigration and gender. Meta's platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which together boast nearly 4 billion users—will be directly affected by this change. The shift coincides with broader tech industry trends toward reduced content moderation.

The implications of community notes

In his speech, Zuckerberg acknowledged that the new policy could result in failing to catch some "bad stuff." However, he emphasized the need to move away from restrictive measures. According to The Wall Street Journal, this change follows a broader industry pattern set by Elon Musk when he acquired Twitter, now X, and reduced its content moderation rules.

Critics have interpreted Meta’s move as strategically advantageous for appeasing political powers, pointing to Zuckerberg's apparent sympathy for recent political developments involving Donald Trump, which is alluded to in ABC News’ article. According to the report, the elimination of fact-checkers has been seen as favoring conservative voices, a narrative they claim aligns with the broader stance in Silicon Valley on free speech.

While some industry experts warn that the community-based approach could hinder efforts to tackle misinformation, some benefits remain, says a Wall Street Journal report: community peer reviews have the opportunity to lead to higher trust among users as they feel their perspectives are included.