As Trumps Terms Starts, Meta Ends Fact Checking Era
On Tuesday, Meta announced the discontinuation of its Meta-fact checking policy, a measure once integrated into its platform to curb misinformation, but as Trump’s inauguration approaches on January 20, the platform decided to shift its promotion of freedom of speech.
Meta, parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, stated commitment to allow users to share content freely, regardless of accuracy and to alter their content depending on their political view.
“It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression,” said Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, in a video. Zuckerberg continued to add that the Meta fact-checking program of the company has “reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.”
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Meta Under Pressure
Meta Platforms announced consequential alterations to its Facebook misinformation policies, drawing both praise and concern. The Big Tech giant wants to shift US content moderation from California to Texas, to end what many believe is perceived as bias in moderation and introduce user-based Instagram and Facebook content moderation guidelines, similar to Elon Musk’s Community Notes on X, formerly Twitter.
By doing so, Meta hopes to counter accusations of political bias and to align its policies more with conservatives
The Zuckerberg fact-checking replacement move has become a cultural norm on Meta’s social platforms, adding that similar steps have been taken on X, but critics worry this shift may allow misinformation to return in large volumes. The changes come alongside a slew of strategic alignments with former President Donald Trump.
Executives at Meta reportedly briefed Trump’s team on the policy changes, and Zuckerberg promoted Joel Kaplan, a close Republican ally, to a senior role in the company. Trump-who has often said social media platforms are trying to silence conservative voices-called the policy shift one toward “free speech.”
Meta-fact checking being removed had misinformation researchers and advocates into alarm, warning of the consequences.
Nicole Gill, executive director of Accountable Tech, said that “reopening the floodgates to the exact same surge of hate, disinformation and conspiracy theories that caused Jan. 6 — and that continue to spur real-world violence.”
Meta Should Rethink Its Moves
Given the political and cultural pressures, a question can be raised regarding the stability of Meta fact checkmoves, specifically, the giant’s ever-so-loving relationship with the President-elect. Trump and his upcoming administration, and how it might make things even worse once Trump returns to office in his second term.
During Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, Meta aligned itself with Trump former administration, donating around $1 million to his inauguration and placing allies like UFC President Dana White on its board. Zuckerberg’s actions reflect his intentions to align Meta’s policies with political ones. For critics, this is a no brainer: Meta is evidently demonstrating its willingness to compromise its principles to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Every decision taken that led to users to fact check Facebook from Meta either strengthens its position, or further the giant ahead in the tech world or plunges it deeper into vulnerabilities. With Trump’s return to the White House, will Meta’s strategy dodge criticisms, or will it maintain its perpetual demise toward self-destruction? The answers will most definitely define the Meta-fact checking legacy in the ever-evolving social media landscape.
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