Statement on Meta's Announcement to Gut Moderation and Fact-checking

This statement from AlgorithmWatch responds to Meta's January 2025 announcement that it would end its third-party fact-checking program and relocate content moderation staff. It argues that framing the changes as a defense of free speech oversimplifies the tension between expression and protection from harm, noting that Meta has previously acknowledged errors such as suppressing pro-LGBTQ+ content while facing accusations of favoring particular political viewpoints.

The piece assesses the proposed replacement, a Community Notes-style system modeled on X, arguing it would be slower to respond during fast-moving events and would substitute volunteer input for expert fact-checking. It draws on platform documentation and past moderation incidents rather than new empirical data collection.

The statement concludes by questioning the European Commission's practical options for enforcing the Digital Services Act if Meta's changes extend to EU users, framing the episode as an unresolved test of regulatory capacity around systemic risks to civic discourse and misinformation on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.