• Meta is ending its U.S. fact-checking program and replacing it with a "Community Notes" system similar to Elon Musk's X platform.
  • Meta will move its trust and safety teams from California to Texas and focus on moderating high-severity violations like terrorism and scams.

Meta Platforms (META.O) announced a major shift in its content moderation approach, ending its U.S. fact-checking program and replacing it with a "Community Notes" system similar to that of Elon Musk's platform X.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the decision in a video statement, citing the 2024 U.S. presidential election as a "cultural tipping point" that underscores the need to prioritize free speech.

The change affects Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, Meta's platforms with over 3 billion global users. The company will stop proactively scanning for hate speech and other rule-breaking content, reviewing posts only after user reports. Automated systems will focus on "high-severity violations" such as terrorism, child exploitation, and scams.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s newly elevated head of global affairs, praised the move, saying,

"We've seen this approach work on X — where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context."

He emphasized that Community Notes aim to provide users with diverse perspectives while avoiding potential biases.

Meta also announced plans to move its trust and safety teams from California to Texas and other locations. However, the relocation has caused confusion among employees, with no clear communication on the transition timeline.

The decision comes amid efforts to improve relations with President-elect Donald Trump, following a contentious history. Meta recently elected Dana White, a Trump ally and UFC CEO, to its board.

"They have come a long way — Meta. The man (Zuckerberg) was very impressive," Trump commented during a press conference.

Critics, including Ross Burley of the Centre for Information Resilience, called the move "a major step back for content moderation." Meanwhile, Meta stated it would refine the Community Notes system throughout the year, ensuring it meets users' needs.

This change applies only to the U.S., as Meta continues to comply with stricter regulations in regions like the European Union.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah