2025-01-07 16:48:00
In a bold move, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has announced significant changes to Facebook’s content moderation policies, aiming to transform the social media platform into a hub for free speech. The decision includes dismantling the existing fact-checking system and introducing a new community-driven approach similar to the one used by Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter.
Elon Musk, a long-time advocate for free expression, welcomed the announcement. Reacting to the news on X, Musk simply wrote, “This is cool,” signalling his approval of the shift.
In a video message, Zuckerberg explained that Meta’s decision to eliminate fact-checkers stemmed from concerns over political bias. “Fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” he said.
Instead, Meta plans to implement a “community notes” system, mirroring the model used by X, where users collaboratively provide context and clarifications to potentially contentious posts.
To further address concerns about bias, Zuckerberg announced that Meta’s content moderation teams will relocate from California to Texas “where there is less concern about the bias of our teams”.
However, he emphasised that the change is a step toward restoring trust and promoting open discourse on the platform.
