First on Fox – Meta ends program to fact-check and lift restrictions on expression to “restore freedom of expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta, acknowledging that its current content moderation practices “have gone too far”.
“We will return to our roots and focus on reducing errors, simplifying our policies, and restoring freedom of expression on our platforms,” Meta's CEO said. Mark Zuckerberg This was stated in a video clip published on Tuesday morning. “More specifically, we will be getting rid of fact-checkers and replacing them with community feedback similar to X, starting with the US.”
Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, will be on Fox News' “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning for an exclusive interview to discuss the changes.
Executives said Meta's fact-checking program was put in place after the 2016 election, and was used to “moderate content” and misinformation on its platforms, largely due to “political pressures,” but they admitted the system “went overboard.” far.”
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Mark Zuckerberg appears at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on January 31, 2024. (Kent Nishimura)
“We went to independent, third-party auditors,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It's become clear that there's a lot of political bias in what they choose to fact-check, because, essentially, they have to fact-check everything they see on the platform.”
Kaplan told Fox News Digital that Meta is “absolutely killing it” and will replace it with a “Community Notes” model similar to the one used on X, formerly Twitter.
“Instead of going to some so-called expert, he instead relies on the community and people on the platform to provide their own feedback on something they read,” Kaplan explained, noting that if a memo gets support from “the largest segment of users,” that can be attached. Note content for others to see.
“We think this is 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 told Fox News Digital that Meta is working to change some of its content moderation rules, particularly ones that it feels are “too restrictive and don't allow enough discourse on sensitive topics like immigration, transgender issues, and gender.”
“We want to make sure that speech can happen freely on the platform without fear of censorship,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital. “We have the power to change the rules and make them more supportive of free speech. We don't just change the rules, we actually change how the rules are enforced.”
Meta is ending its fact-checking program and lifting restrictions on expression in order to “restore freedom of expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
Kaplan said Meta currently uses automated systems, which he said makes “a lot of mistakes” and removes content “that doesn't even violate our standards.”
He also said that there are certain things that Meta will continue to moderate, such as posts related to terrorism, drugs and child sexual exploitation.
But as for the timing of the changes, Kaplan told Fox News Digital that the company has a “real opportunity now.”
“We have a new administration coming in that is far less pressuring companies to censor, and (more) hugely pro-free speech,” Kaplan said, referring to the incoming Trump administration. “It brings us back to the values that Mark founded the company on.”
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer/File)
Last year, Zuckerberg sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee in which he admitted that he felt pressure from the Biden administration, especially regarding coronavirus content, and even things like sarcasm and humor.
“The thing is, as American companies, when you see other governments around the world that don't have our traditions or our First Amendment, when you see the U.S. government pressuring American companies to remove content, it's just open season on those governments that have to exercise more,” Kaplan explained. Of the pressures (on its companies). “We believe it is a real opportunity to work with the Trump administration and work on freedom of expression at home.”
Kaplan also said that Meta sees “opportunities to partner” with the Trump administration, not only on free speech issues but also in “promoting American business and America’s technological superiority.”
“These are issues of great importance to Meta and our industry,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital. “We are excited to work with the Trump administration to achieve these goals.”
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Meanwhile, Meta also said it plans to take a more personalized approach to political content, so users who want to see more posts of this type can do so.
Meta said it would refocus its enforcement efforts on “unlawful and high-risk violations.”
