Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a significant shift in its approach to content moderation, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating that the company aims to “restore free expression.” The move involves phasing out collaborations with external fact-checkers, with the changes initially implemented in the United States.
In a video statement, Zuckerberg emphasised that users should have the ability to express their views freely on contentious topics such as migration and gender without the risk of “censorship.” He described this decision as an opportunity to reaffirm Meta’s commitment to free speech, a sentiment echoed by Joel Kaplan, Meta’s newly appointed President of Global Affairs.
Fact-Checking Replaced by Volunteers
Under the new policy, Meta will discontinue its partnerships with professional fact-checkers and introduce a volunteer-based system inspired by X (formerly Twitter) and its Community Notes feature. This system will allow volunteers to assess the accuracy of posts, which may then be labelled as misleading. However, these labels will reportedly be less intrusive than the warnings previously applied to content on Meta platforms.
Joel Kaplan, who succeeded former UK politician Nick Clegg in Meta’s leadership, stated in a blog post that the fact-checking initiative, introduced in 2016, had become “a tool of censorship, particularly in the U.S.” He also announced that Meta’s Trust and Safety team, responsible for drafting and enforcing content policies, would relocate from California to Texas.
Relaxed Content Policies
Meta’s new approach involves simplifying its user guidelines and removing certain restrictions on topics like immigration and gender identity. The company plans to focus on addressing severe violations, such as posts involving terrorism, fraud, or child exploitation, while waiting for user reports to flag less critical breaches.
Additionally, users who opt in will be able to view more political content on Facebook and Instagram. This marks a departure from recent years, during which Meta had deliberately reduced the visibility of politically charged posts.
A Shift in Strategy
Kaplan characterised the changes as a return to Meta’s core principles of free expression. However, critics view the policy shift as a politically motivated move aimed at aligning with the interests of the American right wing. Meta’s announcement coincides with the aftermath of the recent U.S. elections, won by Donald Trump, with Zuckerberg referring to the results as a “cultural turning point.”
Zuckerberg’s comments in the video suggest a willingness to confront regulatory frameworks in other regions, particularly Europe. The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) requires platforms to take measures to mitigate risks such as disinformation. Meta clarified to Politico that the volunteer fact-checking system would not be rolled out in Europe for now, as it remains unclear whether this model meets DSA standards.
Concerns Over Corporate Influence
The policy shift has drawn criticism from organisations monitoring corporate power and accountability. Bram Vranken, a researcher at Corporate Europe Observatory, highlighted the risks associated with concentrated economic influence. “CEOs of tech companies can make sweeping decisions that profoundly affect the information we consume,” he said. He also noted that Meta’s changes align with a broader trend among tech firms seeking to gain favour with Trump through policy adjustments or financial contributions.
Implications for Global Platforms
While Meta frames its decision as a step toward free speech, critics argue that reducing moderation could lead to increased dissemination of harmful or misleading information. This tension highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing free expression with the responsibility to combat disinformation on global platforms.
Meta’s approach signals a strategic pivot that could redefine its relationship with regulators, users, and political actors. Whether this model succeeds in restoring trust among users without exacerbating the spread of misinformation remains to be seen.
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