Meta overhauls content moderation policies, ditches fact-checkers for Community Notes

In a major shakeup of its content moderation approach, Meta announced Tuesday that it would be eliminating its long-standing fact-checking program and replacing it with a community-driven system called "Community Notes," similar to the one used by X (formerly Twitter). CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that the change was part of the company’s broader effort to champion free speech, restore balance to its platforms, and reduce unnecessary restrictions.

“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms,” Zuckerberg said in a video posted Tuesday morning. He emphasized that this new direction was driven by a desire to prioritize speech and curb growing censorship pressure, particularly from governments and legacy media.

The End of Fact-Checkers

Meta’s fact-checking program, which relied on third-party organizations to review posts in over 60 languages, will be phased out in favor of the new community-based system. This change will first be implemented in the U.S., with plans to expand later. The company stated that, over time, its fact-checking initiative had become too restrictive, limiting users' ability to express themselves freely on the platform.

“We think this could be a better way of achieving our original intention of providing people with information about what they’re seeing – and one that’s less prone to bias,” Joel Kaplan, Meta’s newly appointed global policy chief, said in a statement. Kaplan pointed to X’s community-driven model as a successful example, noting that it allowed users to flag misleading content, ensuring that context is provided by a diverse range of voices.

Community Notes: A New Era of User Responsibility

Under the new system, Meta will rely on users to submit notes or corrections to posts they believe are misleading or need more context. The company will not write or approve the notes but will depend on ratings from contributing users. Kaplan emphasized that the success of this model hinges on users agreeing on what constitutes misleading content, with the goal of reducing bias.

The feature, which will initially roll out in the U.S. over the coming months, is designed to improve throughout the year, according to Kaplan. He also noted that it would allow for more diverse perspectives to help ensure fairness and reduce potential bias.

A New Approach to Divisive Issues

Along with the changes to content moderation, Zuckerberg announced that Meta would be revisiting its policies on divisive topics such as immigration and gender. He criticized the movement towards inclusivity that, according to him, had “gone too far” in suppressing differing opinions. “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas,” Zuckerberg said. “I want to make sure that people can share their beliefs and experiences on our platforms.”

This policy shift comes at a time when Meta is navigating mounting scrutiny over its content moderation practices. Zuckerberg recently admitted that the company had over-enforced its rules in the past, accidentally removing harmless content.

Meta’s New Direction: Moving to Texas and Aligning with Trump

In an additional shift, Zuckerberg announced that Meta’s trust and safety and content moderation teams would be relocating from California to Texas. This move is seen as an effort to distance itself from concerns about the perceived liberal bias of its California-based teams, which have faced intense criticism in recent years.

Meta’s policy overhaul and strategic moves seem to align with political shifts, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term. Last month, Meta made a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund, and Zuckerberg met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

“We need to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more,” Zuckerberg said on Tuesday. “The only way we can push back on this global trend is with the support of the U.S. government.”

Meta’s new global policy chief, Kaplan, a prominent Republican lobbyist, was recently appointed to replace Nick Clegg. Kaplan’s addition signals Meta’s continued efforts to align with political figures, including UFC President Dana White, a Trump ally, who will now join the company’s board of directors.

As Meta moves forward with these sweeping changes, it remains to be seen how its new approach to content moderation and community-driven accountability will play out on its massive platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. With billions of users across its networks, Meta's shift is likely to have wide-reaching implications for the future of online speech and content management.