Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced major changes to the company’s content moderation policies. These changes include ending the third-party fact-checking program in the United States and replacing it with a community-driven system similar to X’s Community Notes. Zuckerberg said, “We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.”
The decision has raised concerns among fact-checkers in India, many of whom rely heavily on funding from Meta.
They worry that the changes in the US will eventually be implemented in India, potentially threatening the existence of these organizations. A senior executive from a fact-checking organization, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “This is possibly the biggest existential threat many fact checkers will have to contend with.”
Indian fact-checkers anticipate two main issues: funding and visibility. Many fact-checking entities in India depend solely on Meta’s program for financial support and rely on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram for audience reach.
Without this support, several fact-checkers might find it unsustainable to continue their operations.
Meta’s changes unsettle India’s fact-checkers
Currently, Meta collaborates with 12 fact-checking partners in India, including prominent publishers such as PTI, AFP, India Today Fact Check, and The Quint.
However, it is unclear whether Meta will extend its decision to end fact-checking partnerships in India. The company did not respond to an immediate request for comment. In addition to ending its fact-checking program, Meta has announced plans to relocate its content moderation team from California to Texas, a move seen as aligning with the new Trump administration.
The company has also appointed Dana White, UFC founder and a Trump supporter, to its board of directors. Furthermore, Meta donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund and recently appointed Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, as its president of global affairs. These developments at Meta reflect broader implications for the company’s operation strategy and its relationships with global governing bodies, such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, which mandates online platforms to install measures tackling illicit content.
As Indian fact-checkers brace for potential similar shifts in Meta’s policies, their future remains uncertain, depending significantly on the company’s next steps in the global digital landscape.
