Meta, the company that now owns Facebook and Instagram, announced a 180° change in its content moderation policies. Through a video on their Instagram account, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of the company, revealed that the fact-checking program will be eliminated and replaced by a system of community ratings, similar to the one implemented by the social network X. According to Zuckerberg, this transformation aims to “restore freedom of expression” and reduce errors resulting from excessive moderation.
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This verification system first arrived after the 2016 United States presidential elections, in an attempt to combat misinformation.
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owever, Zuckerberg argued that this system generated more distrust than credibility among users, especially due to perceived political biases in the fact-checking process. “We cannot become the arbiters of truth,” stated the CEO, pointing out that centralized moderation has led to the unfair removal of legitimate content.
The new community notes system will allow users to add context to posts, offering a more collaborative and inclusive approach to addressing misinformation. Initially, this measure will be implemented in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions. Zuckerberg highlighted that this tool aims to reduce unnecessary censorship and promote open dialogue among users.
Furthermore, Meta will simplify its content policies, removing restrictions on sensitive topics such as immigration and gender. These rules, originally designed to protect vulnerable groups, have been perceived as mechanisms to silence divergent opinions. Despite this relaxation, the company will maintain a strong stance against illegal or high-severity content, such as terrorism, child exploitation, and drug trafficking.
The excessive dependence on automated filters will also be reduced, as they have proven to be ineffective in less severe cases. Zuckerberg explained that automatic systems will continue to operate, but with a more selective approach and a higher level of confidence before proceeding to remove content. User reports will play a crucial role in this new strategy.
To conclude his video, Zuckerberg addressed the increasing government pressures to intensify censorship on digital platforms, especially in regions like Europe and Latin America. To counteract these trends, Meta will seek the support of the US government, including former President Donald Trump, in order to strengthen guarantees for online freedom of expression. With this new strategy, Meta aims to balance freedom of expression with security on its platforms, redefining its role in the global digital ecosystem.