Meta ends fact-checking program

FIRST ON FOX: Meta ends its fact-checking program, lifts restrictions on speech and says current content moderation practices are “going too far” to “reclaim freedom of expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms I admitted something.

“We are going back to our roots to reduce mistakes, simplify our policies, and restore free expression on our platform,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video posted Tuesday morning. We will focus on that.” “More specifically, we plan to remove fact checkers from the US and replace them with community notes similar to X.”

Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief international affairs officer, will appear on Fox News Channel's “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning for an exclusive interview about the changes.

Meta's third-party fact-checking program was introduced after the 2016 election and has been used primarily to “moderate content” and control misinformation on the platform due to “political pressure,” executives said. said, but admitted that the system had gone “too far.” ”

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“We went to independent third-party fact checkers,” Kaplan said in an interview on FOX News Digital. “They can basically fact-check everything they see on the platform, so it's become clear that there's too much political bias in what they choose to fact-check.”

Kaplan told Fox News Digital that Meta will “end it completely” and replace it with a “community notes” model similar to the one used at X (formerly Twitter).

“Rather than relying on so-called experts, we instead rely on communities and people on our platforms to provide their own commentary on what they read,” Kaplan explained, adding that the memo is “the most You can attach a note to your content for other people to see.

“We think that'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 said that Meta has changed some of its own content moderation rules, particularly those that are “too restrictive and do not allow enough discussion of sensitive topics such as immigration, transgender issues, and gender.” “We're changing the rules because we feel like there's no,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital.

“We want to ensure that free speech can occur on our platforms without fear of censorship,” Kaplan told FOX News Digital. “We have the power to change the rules and make them more supportive of freedom of expression. And we're not just changing the rules, we're actually changing how the rules are enforced.”

Meta is ending its fact-checking program and lifting speech restrictions to “restore freedom of expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta's platforms. (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

Kaplan said Meta currently uses an automated system that makes “too many mistakes” and removes content that “doesn't even violate our standards.”

He also said that Meta will continue to moderate some content, including posts related to terrorism, illegal drugs, and child sexual exploitation.

But as for the timing of the change, Kaplan told Fox News Digital that the company has “a real opportunity now.”

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Kaplan said of the incoming Trump administration, “Rather than pressuring companies to censor themselves, we have a new administration that is very supportive of freedom of expression.” “It brings us back to the values ​​that Mark founded the company on.”

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer/File)

Last year, Zuckerberg acknowledged in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee that he felt pressure from the Biden administration, particularly regarding coronavirus-related content, as well as satire and humor.

“The problem is that as American companies, other governments around the world who don't have our traditions or the First Amendment see the US government pressuring American companies to take down content. , it's really open season for them. The government needs to put more pressure on (their companies),” Kaplan explained. “We see a real opportunity to work with the Trump administration to address freedom of expression in our country.”

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Kaplan also said Mehta sees “opportunities for partnership” with the Trump administration, not only on freedom of expression issues, but also “promoting American business and American technological superiority.”

“These are very important issues for Meta and our sector,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital. “And we are excited to work with the Trump administration to advance these goals.”

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Meanwhile, Meta also said it plans to take a more personalized approach to political content and allow users who want to see more of that type of posting to do so.

Mehta said there will be a renewed focus on cracking down on “illegal and serious violations.”