Additional Coverage:
- Meta fact-checkers called an emergency meeting. We got inside. Here’s what happened. (newsbreak.com)
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has decided to end its fact-checking partnerships in the United States. The company cited changing perceptions of free speech as a reason for the move.
While Meta’s global fact-checking support will continue, its US partnerships will officially end in March. Payments to partnering organizations will continue until August.
Meta has offered a severance program to organizations that have not yet signed contracts for 2025. The company plans to implement a new system called “community notes” to replace fact-checking, but the rollout is expected to take time.
IFCN partners have expressed disappointment and financial concerns over Meta’s decision. Some have criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent comments about fact-checkers, calling them harmful to the profession.
The decision has also raised concerns about the impact on fact-checking efforts in other parts of the world. Meta’s Middle East and North Africa team was reportedly unaware of the decision and had been planning contract expansions.
Meta remains open to communication with IFCN and other organizations, but the future of its support for fact-checking initiatives remains uncertain.