KUALA LUMPUR — Meta will overhaul its content moderation approach by eliminating fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with user-driven “community notes,” similar to a system implemented by Elon Musk on X.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the policy shift on Tuesday, signalling a major change in how the tech giant manages misinformation, CNN reported
The announcement comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, following long-standing Republican criticism that Meta censors right-wing opinions.
“Fact checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” Zuckerberg said in a video message.
“What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far.” He acknowledged that loosening content moderation would lead to more harmful material on the platform.
Meta’s Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, echoed these sentiments. Speaking to Fox, he described the original third-party fact-checking partnerships as “well-intentioned” but flawed by political bias.
“We saw societal and political pressure for more moderation and censorship over the past four years. Now, with a new administration supportive of free expression, we have an opportunity to change direction,” he said.
The policy update also follows the appointment of UFC CEO Dana White to Meta’s board, strengthening ties with Trump’s circle. Meta has pledged $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and plans to engage actively in technology policy.
Controversial shift
Meta’s decision to abandon its fact-checking programme marks a stark departure from the practices it implemented in 2016 to combat disinformation after foreign interference in US elections. Over the years, the company developed extensive safety mechanisms, including automated filters, human reviewers, and an independent Oversight Board.
Despite assertions from Meta’s partners that fact-checking targeted falsehoods from all political perspectives, conservative figures argued the system stifled their voices. At a 2020 rally, a Trump supporter told CNN, “Anything I post about our president gets flagged within minutes, even though I know it’s true.”
Under the new system, Meta will adopt community notes to highlight misleading content. Zuckerberg cited Musk’s approach on X as a significant influence, stating, “Elon has played an important role in refocusing the debate on free expression.”
Meta will also modify its automated moderation systems to prioritise illegal and severe violations—such as terrorism, child exploitation, and scams—while relaxing restrictions on immigration, gender identity, and political content. Other issues will rely on user reports for review.
Zuckerberg acknowledged the trade-offs: “If our systems make mistakes even 1% of the time, it affects millions of users. We’ve reached a point where there’s too much censorship.” However, he conceded, “We’ll catch less harmful content, but fewer innocent users will be penalised.”
The changes will involve relocating content policy teams from California to states like Texas, which Zuckerberg believes will alleviate concerns over bias. “This move will help build trust,” he added.
Critics, however, warn that Meta’s actions amount to political pandering. The Real Facebook Oversight Board, a watchdog group, called the move a “retreat from responsible content moderation” and accused Meta of going “full MAGA.” – December 7, 2025