Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced plans to retain its fact-checking program outside the United States, though it may eventually roll out changes globally.
The decision comes after Meta revealed earlier this month that it would replace U.S.-based fact-checkers with a community notes system, similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). This shift reflects a broader effort to adapt its approach to combating misinformation on its platforms.
Nicola Mendelsohn, Meta’s head of global business, commented on the move during an interview with Bloomberg at the Davos Economic Forum on Monday. “We’ll see how that goes as we move it out over the year,” Mendelsohn said. “So nothing changing in the rest of the world at the moment; we are still working with those fact-checkers around the world.”
Meta introduced fact-checking measures over the past several years following criticism about how its platforms were used to spread misinformation. However, the new administration in the U.S. has prompted the company to explore alternative solutions.
While Meta plans to evaluate the community notes system’s performance before extending it globally, regulatory frameworks like Europe’s Digital Services Act may pose challenges. The DSA enforces strict rules to combat the spread of deceptive content, requiring companies to implement measures ensuring transparency and accountability.
Meta has not provided a timeline for potential global changes but will continue collaborating with international fact-checking partners for now.
