Zuckerberg reveals Facebook will stop third-party fact-checking, admitting the system became a tool for censorship with too many errors.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently announced that Facebook will stop using third-party fact-checkers.
This decision comes as the company aims to change its approach to content moderation and free speech.
Zuckerberg believes that the previous model has led to too much censorship and too many mistakes.
Mark Zuckerberg halts Facebook’s third-party fact-checking over censorship tool’s numerous mistakes
Major changes to Facebook’s policies.
Zuckerberg stated that Facebook has focused too heavily on censoring content.
“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms,” he said in a video.
He plans to simplify the platform’s policies and reduce errors in moderation.
According to Zuckerberg, the fact-checking system has become a tool for shutting down opinions rather than encouraging open discussion.
With the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, Zuckerberg sees this as an opportunity to embrace free speech more fully.
He mentioned that the changes are intended to align with a more inclusive approach, allowing a broader range of ideas and discussions on the platform.
Moving away from censorship
In his announcement, Zuckerberg admitted that the fact-checking model has not worked as intended.
He believes that it became politically biased and less trustworthy.
He stated that even minor errors in moderation can impact millions of users.
This realization has pushed him to rethink the way Facebook manages content.
“What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas,” he said, adding: “It’s gone too far.”
The social network will now adopt a new system called “Community Notes,” which is similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s platform, X.
This system allows users to flag posts they find misleading, enabling a more community-driven approach to fact-checking.
New location for content moderation
Zuckerberg also revealed plans to move Meta’s content moderation team from California to Texas.
This shift aims to reduce perceived cultural bias within the moderation team.
By relocating, Zuckerberg hopes to create a more balanced environment for decision-making regarding content.
He believes that this change will help build trust with users.
The goal is to allow for more open discussions on topics that have been heavily moderated in the past, such as immigration and gender issues.
“Even if they accidentally censor just 1% of posts, that is millions of people,” according to Zuckerberg. “And we’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.”
Zuckerberg’s announcement received praise from some political figures.
Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, commended the decision.
He has previously criticized Facebook for its handling of content related to political issues.
Jordan believes that Zuckerberg’s move is a step in the right direction and encourages other tech companies to follow suit.
Focus on free expression
Zuckerberg emphasized the need to promote free expression on Facebook and its other platforms, including Instagram and Threads.
He believes that lifting restrictions on various topics will lead to a healthier discourse among users.
He acknowledged that the company had made many mistakes in moderation in the past.
Zuckerberg’s new plan focuses on tackling illegal content and serious violations while allowing more freedom for users to express themselves.