"CEO Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook, Instagram and Threads will prioritize “free expression,” citing a “cultural tipping point" triggered by the election."
"Meta will dismantle its extensive fact-checking program in the United States, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday, ending a practice that has sought to limit the spread of falsehoods on its platforms but has been assailed as censorship in conservative circles.
The company said it would allow its users to add context or debunk claims in notes that appear next to specific posts, a process pioneered by Elon Musk’s X. Meta will also lift restrictions on hot-button topics, such as immigration and gender identity, to focus on illegal or high-severity violations.
The announcement was accompanied by sweeping changes to Meta’s community guidelines, allowing for greater critiques of LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups. New rules allow posts calling for gender-based restrictions in bathrooms, sports and specific schools, or for characterizing homosexuality as a mental illness. Users may argue that military, law enforcement and teaching jobs should impose limitations based on gender."
Naomi Nix, Will Oremus and Aaron Gregg report for the Washington Post January 7, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"Meta to End Fact-Checking Program in Shift Ahead of Trump Term" (New York Times)
Opinion: "A Cartoonist's Resignation Illustrates How Jeff Bezos Has Hurt The Post" (MSNBC)
"Dana White Is Joining Meta’s Board As The Company’s MAGA Makeover Continues" (MSNBC)
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