Meta Platforms, under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has announced a significant change in its content moderation approach, moving away from third-party fact-checking and towards a community-driven system. This shift comes after years of scrutiny and congressional hearings regarding censorship allegations and the handling of political content on Facebook and Instagram.
Zuckerberg unveiled the new policy in a video, emphasizing a return to the platform's initial focus on open expression and a reduction in content moderation errors. The fact-checking program, implemented post-2016 election, will be replaced by Community Notes, a feature similar to one used on X (formerly Twitter), initially rolling out in the U.S.
This policy change follows a history of Zuckerberg facing intense questioning from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In a January 2024 hearing, Senator Josh Hawley pressed Zuckerberg on the impact of harmful content on young users, citing internal Meta studies. Zuckerberg expressed remorse and highlighted the company's ongoing efforts to prevent such incidents.
During the same hearing, Senator Lindsey Graham criticized Zuckerberg and Meta, linking the platform to tragic consequences, including the suicide of a teenager involved in an extortion scheme originating on Instagram. Graham's strong words reflected the growing concern over the potential negative impacts of social media.
Zuckerberg has also faced scrutiny regarding data privacy and election interference. In 2018, he testified before Congress about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and in 2020, he and then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee about content moderation decisions during the election. Zuckerberg emphasized Facebook's voter information initiatives and efforts to combat misinformation.
Meta executives have stated that the now-discontinued fact-checking program, implemented after the 2016 election, was influenced by political pressures and ultimately overreached. In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg admitted to feeling pressure from the Biden administration concerning COVID-19 content and even satire.
Meta's chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, expressed concerns about the global implications of the US government pressuring American companies to censor content, suggesting it sets a precedent for other nations to suppress free expression. A Trump spokesperson welcomed the shift, framing it as a restoration of free speech principles.
