Some media outlets and fact-checking organizations have compared fact-checkers to first responders battling a “wildfire” of conspiracy theories as fires continue throughout Los Angeles County.
On Monday, CNN published a report on Meta is eliminating the third-party validation system She criticized the decision in light of “misinformation” about the forest fires themselves.
The article is entitled Quoting a journalist who compared fact-checkers to fire departments: “Soon to be out of work, Meta fact-checkers are fighting a wildfire of conspiracy theories.”
Essential phone numbers for Los Angeles area residents and how you can help them
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last week that the social media company would end its fact-checking system. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
“Rumors and speculation about the disaster began spreading across the Internet like glowing embers, before eventually turning into a conflagration of vast conspiracy theories,” the article said.
“Keeping fact-checkers off social platforms is like disbanding your fire department,” added former CNN journalist Alan Duke, who co-founded a fact-checking outlet funded by Meta.
Other sites used similar language, likening fact-checkers to firefighters battling wildfires while news about the Los Angeles fires continued to develop.
Hours before the wildfires broke out on January 7, Full Fact CEO Chris MorrisHe, whose company was linked to Facebook, used the term “first responders” to describe fact-checkers while expressing his disappointment.
Some fact-checkers and media commentators have likened conspiracy theories to “wildfires” and fact-checkers to “first responders.” (Jay Si Hong/AP)
“From protecting elections to protecting public health to dissipating potential unrest on the streets, fact-checkers are first responders in the information environment,” the statement said. “Our professionals are trained to work in a way that promotes reliable evidence and prioritizes tackling harmful information – we believe the public has a right to access our expertise.”
Sunday, Forbes report He compared the growth of conspiracy theories to “wildfire” when condemning Meta's decision as an “ominous sign.”
Click here for more media and cultural coverage
“It's not just an institutional decision — it's part of a societal crisis,” the Forbes article said. “At a time when conspiracy theories are spreading like wildfire and trust in institutions is at an all-time low, one of the most powerful companies on the planet is walking away from its responsibility to combat misinformation.”
A former CNN journalist claimed that eliminating fact-checkers was tantamount to dissolving the fire department. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
In a video posted on Facebook on January 7, Meta's CEO said Mark Zuckerberg admitted It has “exceeded the company's content moderation practices” since its inception in 2016.
“We will return to our roots and focus on reducing errors, simplifying our policies, and restoring freedom of expression on our platforms,” Zuckerberg said. “More specifically, we will be getting rid of fact-checkers and replacing them with community feedback similar to X, starting with the US.”
Although Zuckerberg explained his decision as a way to promote “freedom of expression” online,… Many liberal commentators He attacked the idea of getting rid of fact-checkers as “incredibly dangerous.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
