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Meta Suspends Fact-Checking Program In The US

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 8, 2025

Meta Platforms has announced a major shift in its approach to content moderation in the United States, suspending its fact-checking program. The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which collectively boast over 3 billion users, will relax restrictions on controversial subjects such as immigration, sports, and gender identity. This move comes just as President-elect Donald Trump is poised to take office.

Key Changes

Rather than relying on an official fact-checking program to address questionable claims across its platforms, Meta plans to implement a community-based system similar to the one on Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). This new approach, known as “community notes,” will enable users to provide context and flag misinformation, shifting responsibility from the company to the community. Additionally, Meta will no longer proactively monitor hate speech or other policy violations. Instead, posts will only be reviewed if flagged by users.

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Meta will also relocate the teams responsible for content moderation from California, where most of the company’s US operations are based, to Texas and other locations in the country.

A Shift In Policy

This overhaul represents the most significant shift in Meta’s content moderation strategy, signaling a potential shift in its alignment with the incoming presidential administration. CEO Mark Zuckerberg seems to be signaling a return to a more lenient stance on freedom of expression.

In a video statement, Zuckerberg stated, “We’ve reached a point where there’s just too much wrongdoing and too much censorship. It’s time to get back to our roots around freedom of expression.”

A Strategic Move

Meta’s decision follows its recent hiring of conservative figures to its board, including Joel Kaplan, a former Republican Party political strategist, who was appointed head of global affairs. Dana White, the CEO of the UFC and a close ally of Trump, was also named to the board. Zuckerberg has publicly expressed regret over some of Meta’s previous content moderation decisions, especially in relation to COVID-19. Additionally, Meta made a notable donation of $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, diverging from its past practices.

A Backlash

The decision to end the fact-checking program, which began in 2016, was met with strong opposition from partner organizations. Angie Drobnick Holan, head of the International Fact-Checking Network, called it “a serious blow to the community,” emphasizing that fact-checkers did not censor posts but provided additional context and debunked false claims and conspiracies.

What’s Next?

Currently, Meta plans to implement these changes exclusively in the US market. It remains unclear whether similar changes will be made in the European Union, which has adopted stricter regulations through the Digital Services Act. This law, which came into force in 2023, mandates large online platforms like Facebook and X to address illegal content and potential public safety risks. X’s “Community Notes” feature is already under scrutiny by the European Commission, which launched an investigation in December 2023.

If Meta or any other company violates EU regulations, they could face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue.

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EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.