Meta ends U.S. fact-checking program, sparks criticism

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has announced the end of its U.S.-based fact-checking program. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision has drawn criticism from experts, who warn it could lead to a surge in misinformation, particularly ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Meta will replace the program with “Community Notes,” a crowd-sourced tool aimed at adding context to posts. However, critics doubt its effectiveness compared to professional fact-checking.

The company has faced allegations of political bias in its partnerships, which fact-checking organizations deny, stating content decisions were solely Meta’s responsibility.

While Meta’s program didn’t operate in Nepal, it collaborated with Indian fact-checkers to monitor Nepali-language content. Experts fear this decision could increase the spread of false information online.