Meta announced it will discontinue its third-party fact-checking program, claiming it seeks to “restore free expression.” The company plans to implement a “Community Notes” model, where users can write and rate notes, similar to the system on Elon Musk’s platform, X. This move comes ahead of the impending presidency of Donald Trump, signaling an effort to improve relations with him. CEO Mark Zuckerberg criticized third-party fact-checkers for bias and loss of trust, emphasizing a shift toward simpler policies prioritizing speech.
Meta will remove restrictions on sensitive topics like immigration and gender, focusing on enforcing policies regarding serious violations only. Notably, the company’s trust and safety teams will relocate from California to Texas to align with its new direction. Joel Kaplan, moving into a senior policy role at Meta, has deep Republican ties and advocates for free speech.
Meta faced criticism from conservative lawmakers for perceived censorship of their voices. Trump’s relationship with Meta has been tumultuous, particularly following the January 6 event, which led to temporary suspensions of his accounts. However, restrictions were lifted in July 2023 ahead of the 2024 election, coinciding with Zuckerberg’s outreach to Trump.
