Meta Ends U.S. Fact-Checking Program

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has confirmed that as of Monday, it will no longer employ any fact-checkers in the United States.

By Monday afternoon, our fact-checking program in the US will be officially over. That means no new fact checks and no fact checkers. We announced in January we’d be winding down the program & removing penalties. In place of fact checks, the first Community Notes will start…

— Joel Kaplan (@joel_kaplan) April 4, 2025

Read Also: Meta Ends Third-Party Fact-Checking on Facebook, Instagram

The announcement was made by Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer.

This move marks the final step in a shift that Meta signaled earlier this year when it began loosening its content moderation policies.

Political Timing Raises Eyebrows

The timing of the policy overhaul closely aligns with significant political developments:

• President Trump was inaugurated around the time of Meta’s January announcement.
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended the inauguration after donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
• Dana White, UFC CEO and a known Trump ally, was added to Meta’s board shortly thereafter.

Zuckerberg commented on the shift in a video, stating:

“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritising speech.”

Controversial Changes to Content Policy

Meta’s revised content policies have sparked criticism, particularly around the treatment of marginalised groups.

According to the platform’s updated hateful conduct guidelines:

“We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality.”

Community-Based Moderation to Replace Professionals

Instead of relying on professional fact-checkers, Meta will now implement a user-driven model, similar to Elon Musk’s “Community Notes” on X (formerly Twitter).

Read Also: Community Notes Replaces Fact-Checkers Under Musk

Key points from Kaplan’s announcement:

• Community Notes will gradually appear across Facebook, Threads, and Instagram.
• These notes will not trigger penalties or content removal.
• Fact-checking responsibilities will largely shift to users.

Kaplan framed the change as a move to expand free expression:

“We’re getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate.”

Concerns About Misinformation Surge

Experts warn that replacing professional oversight with user-driven moderation may lead to an increase in misinformation. Evidence is already emerging:

• A viral false claim that ICE offers $750 for tips about undocumented immigrants circulated unchecked.
• The creator of that false post told ProPublica that the end of fact-checking is “great information.”

Critics argue that while community moderation can add helpful context, it is most effective when used in tandem with professional content oversight—tools that Meta is now abandoning.

Business Over Accuracy?

Analysts suggest Meta’s move may be more about engagement than free speech. With fewer moderation tools:

• More controversial content is likely to remain visible.
• Stronger emotional reactions to posts may increase user engagement.
• Meta’s algorithm favors content that drives interaction, regardless of accuracy.

Meta’s decision signals a broader shift in how major platforms may handle information going into a contentious election season.