Mark Zuckerberg Gets Rid Of Fact Checkers

In a major shake-up, Meta is ditching independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram in favour of a user-driven approach inspired by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). The new “community notes” system will let users add context and clarification to posts—a move CEO Mark Zuckerberg says is all about embracing free expression.

In a video accompanying the announcement, Zuckerberg described third-party moderators as “too politically biased” and argued it was “time to get back to our roots around free expression.” He acknowledged the change comes with trade-offs, admitting Meta will “catch less bad stuff” but will also avoid wrongly censoring content or locking users in “Facebook jail.”

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A Trump-Approved Pivot

The timing of this decision isn’t random. With Donald Trump preparing to re-enter the White House, Meta appears eager to rebuild bridges. Trump, who has criticised Meta for censoring right-wing voices, praised the move, saying, “Meta has come a long way.” Joel Kaplan, a Republican and Meta’s new global affairs chief, echoed this sentiment, calling fact-checking “well-intentioned” but ultimately flawed.

Critics, however, aren’t convinced. Ava Lee from Global Witness slammed the announcement, calling it “a blatant attempt to cosy up to the incoming Trump administration.” She warned the policy could amplify hate speech and misinformation, under the guise of promoting free speech.

Image @zuck via Instagram

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The X Factor

Meta’s new community notes system mirrors a similar approach on X, introduced by Elon Musk. The idea? Users from diverse viewpoints collaborate to add context or corrections to controversial posts. Musk gave Meta’s adaptation his stamp of approval, calling it “cool.”

For now, this change will only roll out in the U.S., with Meta stating it has “no immediate plans” to remove fact-checkers in Europe or the UK, where stricter regulations demand greater responsibility for platform content.

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Backlash and Risks

The decision has sparked a firestorm of criticism, especially from organisations like Full Fact, which works with Meta in Europe. CEO Chris Morris called it “a disappointing and backwards step” that could have a chilling effect on fact-checking efforts globally.

Despite the backlash, Zuckerberg remains firm, framing the shift as part of a broader push to simplify Meta’s policies. “It’s not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms,” Meta said in its blog post.

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The Bigger Picture

This policy change is part of a larger political recalibration for Meta. Kaplan replacing Sir Nick Clegg as global affairs chief and UFC president Dana White joining Meta’s board signal a clear alignment with Trump’s camp.

Kate Klonick, a law professor at St. John’s University, told the BBC: “The private governance of speech on these platforms has increasingly become a point of politics.” With this move, Meta is embracing a “radical swing” back toward less moderation—just in time for a new political era.