FIRST ON FOX: Meta is ending its fact-checking program and lifting speech restrictions to “restore free expression” on the Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms, admitting that its current content moderation practices have “gone too far.”
“We’re going back to our roots and focusing on reducing errors, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video posted Tuesday morning. “More specifically, we will get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with X-like community notes, starting in the US.”
Meta’s director of global affairs, Joel Kaplan, will be on Fox Information Channel’s “Fox & Pals” Tuesday morning for an exclusive interview to discuss the changes.
Meta’s third-party fact-checking program was implemented after the 2016 election and was used to “manage content” and disinformation on its platforms, largely due to “political pressure,” executives said, but admitted that the system “has gone too far.” far.”
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Mark Zuckerberg appears at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on January 31, 2024. (Kent Nishimura)
“We used independent, third-party fact-checkers,” Kaplan told Fox Information Digital in an interview. “It has become clear that there is too much political bias in what they choose to verify because they can basically verify everything they see on the platform.”
Kaplan told Fox Information Digital that Meta is “putting an end to that completely” and will replace it with a “Community Notes” model similar to the one used on X, formerly Twitter.
“Instead of going to some so-called expert, it’s up to the community and the people on the platform to provide their own comments on something they’ve read,” Kaplan explained, noting that if a story receives support from “the cross-section of users”, that note can be attached to the content for others to see.
“We think it’s a much better approach than relying on so-called experts who bring their own biases to the program,” Kaplan said.
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Kaplan also told Fox Information Digital that Meta is changing some of its own content moderation rules, especially those it deems “too restrictive and don’t allow enough discourse on sensitive topics like immigration, trans issues and gender.”
“We want to ensure that speech can occur freely on the platform without fear of censorship,” Kaplan told Fox Information Digital. “We have the power to change the rules and make them more supportive of free expression. And we’re not just changing the rules, we’re actually changing the way we enforce them.”
Meta is ending its fact-checking program and lifting restrictions on expression to “restore free expression” on the Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Kaplan said Meta currently uses automated systems, which he says make “too many mistakes” and remove content “that doesn’t even violate our standards.”
He also said there are certain things Meta will continue to moderate, such as posts related to terrorism, illegal drugs and child sexual exploitation.
But as for the timing of the changes, Kaplan told Fox Information Digital that the company has “a current opportunity now.”
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“We have a new administration that is far from pressuring companies to censor and (is more) a big supporter of free expression,” Kaplan said, referring to the incoming Trump administration. “It brings us back to the values that Mark founded the company with.”
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer/File)
Last year, Zuckerberg sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee admitting that he felt pressure from the Biden administration, particularly regarding COVID content, and even topics like satire and humor.
“The thing is, as American companies, when other governments around the world that don’t have our tradition or our First Amendment, when they see the United States government putting pressure on American companies to remove content, then it’s just open season on those companies. Governments must apply more pressure. (on their companies),” Kaplan explained. “We think it’s a current opportunity to work with the Trump administration and work on free expression at home.”
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Kaplan also said Meta sees “partnership opportunities” with the Trump administration, not only on free speech issues but also on “the promotion of American businesses and America’s technological advantage.”
“Those are issues of great importance to Meta and our sector,” Kaplan told Fox Information Digital. “And we are excited to work with the Trump administration to advance those goals.”
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Meanwhile, Meta also said it plans to take a more personalized approach to political content, so that users who want to see more such posts can do so.
Meta said it will refocus its law enforcement efforts on “illegal and high-severity violations.”
