Meta shelves fact-checking in major policy reversal ahead of Trump administration

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has shelved its third-party fact-checking programme in the US, replacing it with a community-based system similar to Elon Musk-owned X, founder Mark Zuckerberg announced via video message. The company also reduced restrictions on discussions about sensitive topics, including drugs, terrorism, immigration and gender identity.

"We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the US," Zuckerberg said in a video. "We've reached a point where it's just too many mistakes and too much censorship. It's time to get back to our roots around free expression," he said.

The changes will affect Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, which serve billions of users. Zuckerberg stated that the moderation systems currently in place on its platforms often make too many mistakes.


"The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritising speech, so we’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms,” the Meta CEO said.

The announcement followed the news of former Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, joining the Meta board.

Meta launched its fact-checking program in 2016 to curb misinformation, following criticism over Facebook’s role in spreading false claims during the 2016 US presidential election.