Meta Abandons Fact-Checking: A Dangerous Pivot or Return to Free Speech?

What a stupid idea — Meta has decided to end fact checking on its platforms. In a sweeping announcement that has sent shockwaves through the social media landscape, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Facebook and Instagram will abandon their third-party fact-checking program in favor of a “Community Notes” system similar to the one used by X (formerly Twitter).

The timing couldn’t be more suspicious. Meta’s dramatic shift comes just before Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, and following a recent meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago. According to Meta’s official announcement, the company claims its fact-checking program, launched in 2016, had “gone too far” and become “a tool to censor” rather than inform. But critics see a different story unfolding.

The New York Times reports that this move is part of a broader “MAGA makeover” at Meta, accompanying other significant changes in leadership. The company recently appointed Joel Kaplan, a Republican operative, as its global policy chief, and added UFC CEO Dana White, a Trump ally, to its board. These appointments suggest a calculated political realignment rather than a genuine commitment to free speech.

Meta’s stated rationale focuses on correcting what it views as systematic overcorrection. According to the…