Facebook drops fact-checkers, embraces free speech in major policy shift

 In a bold move that signals a seismic shift in the battle over free speech online, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced it will no longer rely on third-party fact-checkers to police content on its platforms. Instead, the tech giant will adopt a new system called “Community Notes,” modeled after Elon Musk’s X, which empowers users to provide context and flag potentially misleading content. The decision, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, comes amid mounting criticism of Big Tech’s censorship practices and growing legal pressure from lawsuits alleging government-backed suppression of dissenting voices.

The timing of Meta’s announcement is no coincidence. Just weeks ago, Ty and Charlene Bollinger, founders of The Truth About Cancer and The Truth About Vaccines, filed a lawsuit against what they call the “Censorship Industrial Complex.” Their complaint alleges that Meta, along with federal agencies and NGOs, conspired to silence critics of COVID-19 policies, vaccines, and natural health alternatives. Similarly, Mike Adams, founder of Natural News and Brighteon, filed a lawsuit in May 2024 accusing the U.S. government of “censorship laundering” by funding overseas organizations to suppress free speech.

Zuckerberg’s decision to scrap fact-checkers marks a significant departure from Meta’s previous approach, which critics argue was rife with bias and overreach. “It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression on Facebook and Instagram,” Zuckerberg said in a video statement. He acknowledged that the company’s efforts to combat “misinformation” often led to mistakes, stifling legitimate political debate and silencing voices that challenged mainstream narratives...<<<Read More>>>...