Meta Platforms, the parent company of major social media platforms, announced on Tuesday the termination of its US fact-checking initiative and a relaxation of restrictions on discussions surrounding divisive issues like immigration and gender identity. This decision comes amid heightened scrutiny from conservative groups as Donald Trump prepares for his second term as President.
This adjustment marks a significant shift in Meta’s strategy for handling political discourse across its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, collectively attracting over 3 billion users worldwide. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently hinted at a desire to improve relations with the incoming administration.
As part of the organizational changes, Metropolitan has appointed Joel Kaplan, a Republican policy expert, to lead global affairs, and has also welcomed Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a long-time Trump associate, to its board of directors.
Zuckerberg expressed in a video statement that there had been too much censorship and an overabundance of errors. He emphasized a return to the company’s foundational principles concerning free expression, acknowledging that the recent elections in the US had contributed to his reevaluation, stating they suggested a shift toward valuing speech once more.
Trump responded positively to the developments, stating that Meta has made substantial progress. When asked if he believed Zuckerberg was yielding to his pressures, Trump suggested that he probably was.
Instead of maintaining a formal fact-checking program aimed at managing inaccurate claims on its platforms, Zuckerberg announced plans to institute a “community notes” system. This approach bears similarities to one used by the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk.
Meta will also stop actively searching for hate speech and other infractions and will address reported posts only when users flag them. The company intends to focus its automated systems primarily on serious offenses such as terrorism, child exploitation, scams, and drug-related content.
Additionally, teams responsible for drafting and reviewing content policies will be relocating from California to Texas and other US locations, according to Zuckerberg.
Sources indicate that Meta has been contemplating this transition away from fact-checking for over a year, though there has been no formal communication regarding relocation plans with staff. This has led to confusion among employees, with discussions circulating on the anonymous app Blind.
It has been noted that the majority of Meta’s US content moderation has already taken place outside of California.
Kaplan addressed the changes during an appearance on the “Fox & Friends” program, but offered only a brief overview of his public statements on the company’s internal platform, Workplace, according to a report from Reuters.
A Meta spokesperson refrained from providing details on the relocation or specifying which teams would be leaving California and did not address inquiries regarding noted errors or biases from the fact-checkers.
Unexpected Changes
The dissolution of the fact-checking program, which was established in 2016, surprised partner organizations. An AFP spokesperson remarked, “We learned the news as everyone has today. This is a significant setback for the fact-checking community and journalism. We are currently assessing the implications.”
Angie Drobnic Holan, head of the International Fact-Checking Network, challenged Zuckerberg’s claims of bias within the organization, asserting that fact-checking journalism has consistently provided context to controversial claims and debunked falsehoods rather than censoring them.
Kristin Roberts, Gannett Media’s chief content officer, emphasized the commitment to delivering truth and facts, asserting that they serve everyone regardless of political affiliation.
Responses from other partner organizations were not immediately available, and Reuters opted not to comment. However, Meta’s independent Oversight Board expressed approval of the recent changes.
In recent statements, Zuckerberg expressed regret regarding certain content moderation decisions, particularly concerning COVID-19 discussions. The company also made headlines for donating $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, marking a noticeable shift in its prior practices.
Ross Burley, co-founder of the non-profit Centre for Information Resilience, criticized the change, calling it a major regression in content moderation at a time when disinformation is rapidly evolving. He suggested that the decision prioritizes political appeasement over sound policy.
Currently, these changes are intended for the US market, with no immediate plans to dissolve the fact-checking initiative in regions such as the European Union, which has stringent regulations for tech companies. A spokesperson confirmed ongoing monitoring of Meta’s compliance under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which enforces severe penalties for non-compliance.
Meta plans to implement the Community Notes system in the US over the next few months and intends to refine the process throughout the year.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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