BEFORE FOX: Meters are running out its fact-checking program and the lifting of restrictions on speech to “restore free expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms, believing that the current methods of measuring content “have gone too far very much.”
“We will return to our roots and focus on reducing errors, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platform,” CEO of Meta. Mark Zuckerberg said a video posted Tuesday morning. “Essentially, we're going to get rid of the checkers and replace them with X-like Social Security, starting in the US”
Meta's chief global information officer, Joel Kaplan, will be on Fox News Channel's “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning for a special interview to discuss the changes.
Meta's third-party fact-checking program was launched after the 2016 election and was used to “control content” and misinformation on its platform, mainly due to “pressure from politics,” officials said, but believed the system “has gone too far.”
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Mark Zuckerberg is presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 31, 2024. (Kent Nishimura)
“We went to independent, third-party data analysts,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital in an interview. “Obviously there's a lot of political bias in what they choose to censor because, basically, they can censor whatever they see on the platform.”
Kaplan told Fox News Digital that Meta is “completely eliminating that” and will replace it with “Social Content” similar to what was used on X, formerly Twitter.
“Instead of going to a so-called expert, instead it depends on the public and people on the platform to give their interpretations of what they read,” Kaplan explained, saying that if The letter receives support from “a wide range of users,” the message can be attached to the content for others to see.
“We think it's a much better approach than relying on so-called experts who bring their biases to the show,” Kaplan said.
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Kaplan also told Fox News Digital that Meta is changing some of its content moderation rules, particularly ones they feel are “too restrictive and don't allow enough discussion about serious topics like immigration, trans and gender issues.”
“We want to make sure that conversations can happen freely on the platform without fear of scrutiny,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital. “We have the power to change the laws and make them more supportive of free speech. And we're not just changing the laws, we're actually changing the way we enforce the laws.”
Meta is suspending its fact-checking program and removing restrictions on speech to “restore free speech” on the Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Kaplan said Meta now uses an automated system, which he said makes “too many mistakes” and removes content that “doesn't violate our standards.”
He also said that there are certain things that Meta will continue to try, such as issues related to terrorism, illegal drugs and sexual abuse of children.
But as for the timing of the changes, Kaplan told Fox News Digital that the company has a “real opportunity right now.”
“We have a new administration coming in that is far from pressuring companies to check and (is) a big supporter of free speech,” Kaplan said, referring to the incoming Trump administration. “It brings us back to the values that Mark founded the company on.”
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer/File)
Last year, Zuckerberg sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee in which he admitted that he felt pressured by the Biden administration, especially regarding the issues of COVID, even things like satire and humor.
“The thing is, like American companies, when other governments around the world don't have our culture or our First Amendment, when they see the United States government pressuring US companies to take things down, it's open time for those governments to put more pressure (on their companies),” Kaplan explained. “We think it's a real opportunity to work with the Trump administration and work on freedom of expression at home.”
Kaplan also said that Meta sees “opportunities for cooperation” with the Trump administration, not only in matters of free speech but also in “promoting American business and American technology.”
“This is very important news for Meta and our industry,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital. “And we're excited to work with the Trump administration to advance those goals.”
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Meanwhile, Meta also said it plans to take a special approach to political content, so users who want to see those kinds of posts can do so.
Meta said it would focus its enforcement efforts on “illegal and serious violations.”