Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced a major shift in its content moderation policies, scaling back some of the measures it had implemented in recent years to address political and health misinformation. In a blog post titled "More Speech, Fewer Mistakes," Joel Kaplan, Meta's new chief global affairs officer, outlined three key changes:
Ending Third-Party Fact-Checking: Meta will discontinue its third-party fact-checking program and adopt a Community Notes model, similar to the one used by X.com (formerly Twitter).
Relaxing Content Restrictions: The company will lift restrictions on "topics that are part of mainstream discourse" and instead focus on addressing "illegal and high-severity violations."
Personalized Political Content: Users will be encouraged to customize their feeds with political content tailored to their preferences, allowing for more subjective opinions and biases in what they see.
These changes come after years of criticism over Meta's role in spreading misinformation about elections, COVID-19, and other issues. In response to earlier backlash, Meta had formed an Oversight Board, strengthened moderation efforts, and introduced tools for users to flag harmful or misleading content. However, these measures faced criticism from various sides—some argued the policies were too weak, others claimed they led to mistakes, and some believed they were politically biased.
In recent months, Meta has shown signs of retreating from its stricter policies. Last month, outgoing policy chief Nick Clegg admitted in an interview that the company had gone too far with moderation. Additionally, the Oversight Board has not met expectations in its effectiveness.
Meta's latest approach reflects a shift toward less intervention. Kaplan wrote that the company’s platforms are designed to foster free expression, acknowledging that such openness can lead to "messy" outcomes but is central to the principle of free speech.
These changes are particularly significant as they coincide with the start of a new U.S. presidential administration. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters have advocated for a broader interpretation of free speech, and Meta’s platforms have been criticized in the past, especially after banning Trump at one point.
The Oversight Board has welcomed Meta's move to revise its fact-checking approach, expressing optimism about finding scalable solutions that balance trust, free speech, and user expression. The board also noted its intent to collaborate with Meta on shaping its free speech strategy for 2025.
Meta is also undergoing leadership changes. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has shown interest in working with the Trump administration, and recent board appointments include Dana White, a Trump supporter and UFC president. Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, has taken over as the company’s global affairs head, replacing Nick Clegg. These moves signal Meta’s evolving stance on content moderation and its broader alignment with shifting political dynamics.