Meta Ends US Fact-Checking Program
Meta's fact-checking program in the United States will officially end today, monday, according to an announcement from Joel Kaplan, Meta's global policy head.
In a post on X, Kaplan confirmed that "no new fact checks and no fact checkers" would remain active across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads as the company fully transitions to Community Notes.
First announced in January by CEO Mark Zuckerberg Community Notes will allow contributors to write and rate notes providing additional context for posts.
According to Kaplan, Community Notes will now begin "appearing gradually across Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, with no penalties attached." The change affects only US platforms for now, as Meta continues to rely on third-party fact-checking in other countries, with plans to expand Community Notes internationally in the future.
More misinformation?
The approach mirrors content moderation changes at X under Elon Musk's leadership. While Meta presents the shift as supporting free speech, critics including civil rights and digital policy experts have expressed concerns that misinformation could spread more easily without formal fact-checking structures.
To become Community Notes contributors, users must meet several requirements: be over 18 years old, have accounts older than six months, and maintain accounts "in good standing."
Dan's Quick Analysis
Meta's pivot to Community Notes closely follows X's content moderation approach under Musk, signaling a significant industry shift toward crowd-sourced verification systems. While Meta says this helps free speech and cuts bias, many worry false information will spread faster.
As X Goes, So Goes Meta
Both Meta and X are now doing the same thing – replacing expert fact-checkers with regular users. Studies show more false news has spread on X since they made this change.
This change pushes the job of checking facts from the companies to their users. It might also help these companies avoid blame when false information spreads.
How well Community Notes works will depend on having different kinds of people with good knowledge participating – something we can't measure yet but need to watch closely.