Meta Ends Fact-Checking on Facebook, Instagram in Free-Speech Pitch
SUMMARY
Meta Platforms announced it will end fact-checking and lift restrictions on speech across Facebook and Instagram to promote free expression. CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated the decision aims to simplify policies and reduce censorship errors. Fact-checkers will be replaced with Community Notes, modeled after a similar feature on Elon Musk’s platform, X. This shift aligns with Zuckerberg’s efforts to strengthen ties with the incoming Trump administration, including a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund and a recent dinner with the president-elect. Additionally, UFC President Dana White, a Trump ally, was appointed to Meta’s board of directors. Meta’s decision mirrors Musk’s free-speech approach on X, which has faced criticism for enabling misinformation. Zuckerberg acknowledged past overreach in content moderation, calling for a return to prioritizing speech. He also criticized legacy media and fact-checkers for political bias, positioning Meta as a defender of free expression.
