Tue Jan 07 17:16:27 UTC 2025: **Meta Scraps US Fact-Checking Program, Embraces Community Notes in Shift Aligned with Trump Administration**
**San Francisco, CA** – In a dramatic policy shift, Meta announced Tuesday it is dismantling its US fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, opting instead for a community-based approach similar to X (formerly Twitter). The move comes as incoming President Donald Trump prepares to take office, aligning with his administration’s priorities and criticisms of perceived bias in content moderation.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg cited concerns about perceived political bias within the fact-checking program, stating that it had “destroyed more trust than it created.” The decision echoes long-standing complaints from the Republican Party and X owner Elon Musk, who have argued that fact-checking disproportionately targets conservative voices.
Replacing the fact-checking program, Meta will implement “Community Notes,” a system allowing users to collaboratively add context and information to posts. This shift towards user-driven moderation represents a significant departure from Meta’s previous approach, which involved third-party fact-checkers and algorithmic downranking of false information.
The announcement was met with approval from President-elect Trump, a long-time critic of Meta’s content moderation policies. Musk also expressed his support on X, posting “This is cool.”
Further indicating a rapprochement with the incoming administration, Meta has appointed former Republican official Joel Kaplan to head public affairs, replacing Nick Clegg, and added UFC president Dana White, a close Trump ally, to its board. The company also plans to relocate its trust and safety teams from California to Texas.
Zuckerberg framed the changes as a response to what he described as a “cultural tipping point” prioritizing free speech over moderation. He also indicated that Meta will work with the Trump administration to counter what he called “foreign governments going after American companies to censor more.” Additionally, Meta will reverse its 2021 policy of reducing political content, instead adopting a more personalized approach.
The decision marks a significant reversal for Meta, which launched its fact-checking program in the wake of the 2016 election amid concerns about disinformation and foreign interference. The shift will undoubtedly have significant implications for the spread of misinformation on Meta’s platforms and the broader landscape of online content moderation.
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