Meta has announced they will be dumping the independent fact checkers on their platforms in favour of the X style “community notes” where the accuracy of the posts will be left up to everyday users.
In a blog posted by Zuck himself he said the fact checkers were “too politically biased” and it was time to get back to the “roots around free expression”.
“Fact checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the new policy.
“What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far.”
Zuckerberg did admit however that he believes more harmful and hateful content will be more prevalent due to the changes in moderation.
This move comes after many tech executives try to improve relations with new president-elect Donald Trump as he and his allies have been critical of Meta saying their“fact check policies were censoring right wing views.
Campaigners against hate speech online have criticised Meta’s move suggesting it was motivated by getting on the right side of Trump.
“Zuckerberg’s announcement is a blatant attempt to cozy up to the incoming Trump administration with harmful implications”, said Ava Lee, from Global Witness.
Photo Credit: Forbes
