Weezha Roz – Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, announced this week that the company plans to remove fact-checkers from the social media platform.
The owner of Instagram and WhatsApp justified the removal of these fact-checkers on the grounds of “freedom of speech,” which is a principle often cited in relation to content moderation.
Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), also emphasized “freedom of speech” when he discussed his intention to acquire Twitter.
Fact-checking, or verification, is a common practice, particularly among journalists, to ensure the accuracy of information being circulated.
The use of fact-checking in social media became prevalent after the widespread dissemination of fake news and misinformation on these platforms.
According to Euronews, Facebook has been collaborating with third-party organizations to verify information, images, and videos shared on the platform since 2016.
The use of fact-checking on Facebook became more prominent after the company was fined in Europe for the spread of fake news and misinformation.
Mark Zuckerberg now accuses fact-checkers of “censorship” and “bias.”
Zuckerberg’s decision has sparked criticism from a large number of experts in information, communications, and the digital world.
Critics specifically point to the effectiveness of fact-checking in combating the spread of fake news and misinformation.
They are concerned that the removal of fact-checkers could lead to an increase in the spread of fake news across Meta’s social media platforms.
This is particularly concerning as the spread of misinformation can have disastrous consequences in various areas, from politics to public health.
Meta has not yet clarified whether the decision to remove fact-checkers will apply to Facebook usage in other countries or if it will be limited to the United States.
This issue is significant because regulations and laws vary across regions, with the European Union leading the way in implementing stricter regulations for digital giants.
Weezha Roz
