Meta has announced the end of its fact-checking program and significant changes to content moderation policies across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The company cited a need to restore free expression and simplify its approach to managing content.
“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video Tuesday. “We’re getting rid of fact-checkers and replacing them with Community Notes, similar to what’s used on X, starting in the U.S.”
Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, elaborated on the changes during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. “This is a great opportunity for us to reset the balance in favor of free expression,” Kaplan said, noting the company’s new focus on community-driven moderation rather than relying on third-party fact-checkers.
Meta introduced its third-party fact-checking program after the 2016 election under political pressure to manage misinformation. However, executives now admit the system allowed for political bias.
Kaplan explained that the new Community Notes model will let users provide commentary on posts, with notes gaining visibility only if they receive support from a broad cross-section of the community. “It’s a better approach than relying on so-called experts who bring their own biases,” Kaplan said.
Meta is also revising its content moderation policies to allow more open discourse on sensitive topics such as immigration, transgender issues, and gender. While automated systems will still monitor for severe violations like posts promoting terrorism or illegal activities, Kaplan acknowledged these systems had previously removed too much content that didn’t violate platform standards.
Kaplan emphasized the timing of these changes, citing alignment with the incoming Trump administration. “We have a real opportunity now with a new administration that supports free expression,” he said. Last year, Zuckerberg acknowledged in a letter to Congress that the Biden administration had pressured the company to moderate certain content, including humor and satire.
Meta plans to focus its enforcement efforts on “illegal and high-severity violations” while giving users more personalized options for political content. The company also sees opportunities to partner with the Trump administration on issues of free expression and promoting American technological leadership.
“This gets us back to the values Meta was founded on,” Kaplan said. “We’re excited to work with the administration to advance these goals.”
