President Biden on Friday condemned Meta's decision to eliminate its fact-checking program, calling it "really shameful." The move, announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, also includes changes to content moderation policies across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
Biden expressed strong disapproval, stating that "telling the truth matters" and that eliminating fact-checking goes against American principles of justice. He highlighted the potential for misinformation to spread unchecked on social media platforms. He emphasized that a billionaire's ability to remove fact-checking while still allowing millions to consume the content was "really shameful."
Zuckerberg, in a Tuesday video, justified the change, citing the 2024 presidential election as a cultural tipping point and a desire to "restore free expression." He argued the new approach would focus on reducing mistakes and simplifying policies. He also alluded to disagreements with the prior administration regarding content moderation requests.
These actions are not without precedent, and the shift follows some significant internal changes within Meta. The company has announced the elimination of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team and related programs. Zuckerberg also detailed interactions with previous administration officials, claiming they "cursed" and "screamed" at Meta employees when they disagreed with their content takedown requests.
Biden, in a recent interview, acknowledged his regret in failing to adequately address misinformation during his term, including false claims from his predecessor. These developments underscore the ongoing tensions between social media platforms, the government, and the spread of information.
