Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook will phase out its controversial third-party fact-checking system, admitting it had become a tool for censorship. The change comes as Meta shifts towards fostering free expression on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Zuckerberg acknowledged that the system had made “too many mistakes” and enforced rules excessively, which limited political debate and censored minor content.
The company plans to replace the system with a “Community Notes” model inspired by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), allowing users to call out potentially misleading posts. Zuckerberg also announced that Meta’s content moderation teams would relocate from California to Texas to reduce perceived cultural biases in decision-making.
The move follows criticism that Facebook’s fact-checkers were politically biased and failed to build trust. Zuckerberg noted instances where government pressure influenced content moderation decisions, such as during the 2020 election and the pandemic. He acknowledged these measures had eroded user confidence.
The overhaul is aimed at reducing errors in moderation while maintaining focus on tackling illegal and harmful content. Zuckerberg stated the company’s goal is to ensure users can express diverse opinions without fear of censorship, emphasizing a return to Meta’s original principles of free speech.
