Social media giant Meta has abruptly ended its US fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, opting instead for a system resembling X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes. This significant policy shift, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, aligns with the priorities of incoming President Donald Trump, who has long criticized the company for perceived bias.
“We’re eliminating fact-checkers who have eroded trust rather than fostering it, particularly in the US,” Zuckerberg stated. He added that the new Community Notes system would empower users to collaboratively add context to posts, distilling reliable information through consensus rather than relying on top-down moderation.
The decision follows years of criticism from Trump and his Republican allies, who argue that fact-checking disproportionately targets conservative voices. The move was welcomed by X owner Elon Musk, who has echoed similar concerns. “This is cool,” Musk posted on X shortly after the announcement.
Meta’s decision appears to be part of a broader effort to reconcile with Trump, who has been a vocal critic of Zuckerberg. The Republican leader was banned from Facebook after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot but had his account reinstated in early 2023. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump suggested the policy change was likely a response to his criticisms. “Probably, yeah,” he said when asked about Zuckerberg’s motivations.
The shift has drawn criticism from fact-checking organizations. Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network, called the decision a response to “extreme political pressure” and warned it would undermine users seeking reliable information.
Meta also announced it would relocate its trust and safety teams from California to Texas, a move aimed at countering perceptions of political bias. Additionally, Zuckerberg criticized the European Union’s content moderation laws and pledged to collaborate with Trump to resist foreign censorship.
As Meta dismantles its traditional fact-checking framework, its pivot to user-driven moderation marks a controversial yet pivotal moment for the future of online information.
