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Meta Suspends Fact-Checking Program In The US

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.

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.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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