Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have voiced their disapproval of Meta’s recent changes to its fact-checking and hateful content policies, describing them as a direct threat to free speech.
In a joint statement, the couple said, “Meta’s changes to its ‘Hateful Content Policies’ do not protect free expression but instead foster an environment where abuse and hate speech silence and threaten the voices of whole communities who make up a healthy democracy.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also criticized Meta’s decision to scale back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion commitments, adding to the growing backlash against the tech giant.
Meghan, who rejoined Instagram weeks ago after deleting her accounts in 2018, has previously engaged with Meta executives in “constructive conversations” about online safety, particularly in light of the abuse she has faced since marrying Prince Harry.
The criticism extends beyond the royal couple. Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko called Meta’s policy changes “deeply troubling” and a concern for anyone who values online integrity. Michael McConnell, co-chair of Meta’s oversight board, expressed similar reservations, noting that the board was not consulted on the decisions.
Meta has yet to respond publicly to the mounting concerns over its policy shifts, which have drawn widespread attention from high-profile figures and digital rights advocates alike.
