Meta Shelves Fact-Checking, To The Delight Of Trump

Social media company Meta Platforms has announced that it is scrapping its U.S. fact-checking program and easing restrictions on discussions about contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has indicated a willingness to mend relations with the incoming administration. I Photo: Mark Zuckerberg Facebook

The move comes amidst criticism from conservatives and ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term, according to Katie Paul, Supantha Mukherjee, and Deborah Mary Sophia reporting for Reuters.

The decision marks Meta's most significant overhaul in managing political content on its platforms in recent years.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has indicated a willingness to mend relations with the incoming administration. These changes will impact Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which collectively have more than 3 billion users globally.

Last week, Meta elevated Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan to global affairs head. On Monday, it announced that Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and a close Trump ally, had been elected to its board.

"We've reached a point where it's just too many mistakes and too much censorship. It's time to get back to our roots around free expression," Zuckerberg said in a video.

He acknowledged the influence of the recent U.S. elections, describing them as "a cultural tipping point towards prioritizing speech."

President-elect Trump expressed approval, praising Zuckerberg: "They have come a long way—Meta. The man (Zuckerberg) was very impressive," Trump said. Asked if he believed Zuckerberg’s actions were a response to his threats, including a pledge to imprison the CEO, Trump replied, "Probably."