Meta Platforms has announced a significant change in its approach to handling political content on its platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram. The company declared that it will discontinue its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, aiming to implement a more personalized and community-driven approach to political discourse.
This decision is a response to the feedback indicating that the previous program had inadvertently led to the suppression of legitimate political speech, as stated by Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan. Originally launched in 2016, Meta's independent fact-checking program was intended to provide clarity in an era of misinformation.
However, Kaplan noted that it ended up controlling too much content that users recognized as valid political expression. He explained, "A program intended to inform too often became a tool to censor," underlining the company’s recognition of the need for a balance between managing misinformation responsibly and maintaining users' freedom to express their views. In lieu of the fact-checking initiative, Meta will transition to a "community notes" program scheduled to roll out in the coming months.
This new system will allow users to write and evaluate notes about political content, fostering a collaborative environment where opinions from diverse perspectives can coexist. The goal is to minimize bias in content evaluation and ensure a fair representation of various viewpoints. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's Chief Executive, reiterated this shift as a necessary move toward re-establishing free speech on the platforms.
He remarked, "We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship." This transition comes at a crucial time, with Zuckerberg citing recent elections as a pivotal moment for embracing a culture more aligned with free expression. To enhance user experience, Meta will provide options for users on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads to engage more with political content that resonates with them.
Alongside this, the company is dismantling restrictions surrounding sensitive societal issues, such as immigration and gender identity, asserting that it is unfair for topics permitted in public discourse to be restricted on social media. Kaplan stressed, “It’s not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms,” thereby advocating for a broader conversation on unrestricted speech. Meta is also proactively bolstering its internal team by hiring additional staff dedicated to reviewing moderation decisions.
This move is aimed at refining the enforcement processes with a greater emphasis on achieving accuracy in content management by involving multiple reviewers in decision-making. Furthermore, Zuckerberg indicated that the company would work alongside President-elect Donald Trump to address governmental censorship targeting American companies worldwide.
Trump is set to take office on January 20, when these dynamics may further shape the social media landscape. On a corporate governance level, Meta recently announced the inclusion of influential figures on its board, including Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, John Elkann of European investment firm Exor, and technology investor Charlie Songhurst, all of whom bring diverse insights to the company's strategic direction..