Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced the end of fact-checking in the United States. The executive also announced that the program will be replaced by the "community notes" verification system, the same one used by X (formerly Twitter).
For Marcelo Crespo, professor and coordinator of the Law course at ESPM, this substitution has long-term political and legal implications, including in Brazil. In the previous system, fact-checking was carried out by independent third parties and had a technical and unbiased focus. By adopting a "community notes" system to evaluate content, a wide path for organized manipulation by groups with biased viewpoints can be opened. In a highly divided society, like Brazil, the subjectivity of participants will result in a much more favorable opinion of the divided and misleading content and much less of the discussion.
The professor emphasizes that, despite the new approach seeming innovative, it does not dispense with methods that can be technically applied to effectively combat misinformation. In Brazil, this change is likely to strengthen the debate about the responsibility of the involved companies, making Meta even more dependent on responsible moderation. Additionally, the system will need to be launched transparently and in compliance with national regulations. This change could have a significant negative impact, both politically and legally.
Bruno Peres, a digital marketing professor at ESPM, points out that the decision proposes a different approach to content moderation with the idea of promoting greater freedom of expression, but without confirmation of it being an effective system. There are no tests, studies, or detailed explanations that prove the fact, so this raises a series of concerns about the effectiveness of this new format in combating misinformation. Peres also highlights that the movement may have political ties and that the lack of clarity in the change raises concerns for the new format.
Meta's decision could impact user trust, according to Rafael Terra, a digital marketing professor at ESPM. The professor emphasizes that change can intensify polarization on social networks, making it even more crucial for companies and individuals to act ethically to maintain public trust. Although the change promotes greater participation, it may raise concerns about credibility and misinformation control. It is a model that requires users' digital maturity to avoid manipulations and biases. The professor emphasizes that it is necessary to educate the community for this system to function properly. Furthermore, it is important to stay alert, as the removal of professional fact-checkers can lead to the amplification of false news and harmful information. "This is especially dangerous in political or sensitive contexts."
Meta fact-checking change raises concerns for new format
