Meta announced that it will end its fact-checking program and employing third-party fact-checking partners to combat misinformation on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in a video message that, as in the past, users will be responsible for adding notes to posts that may contain false or misleading information.

“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms,  “More specifically, here’s what we’re going to do. First, we’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the U.S.,” said Zuckerberg.

The decision also impacts CivilNet, which collaborates with Meta in Armenia as a third-party fact-checking partner.

In a conversation with Media.am, Ani Grigoryan, the head of CivilNet’s fact-checking department, said that they received a letter regarding revisions, from which it becomes clear that the program will be stopped gradually, first in the USA, and then in other regions.

“CivilNet’s collaboration with Meta is defined by a contract valid until January 2026. We will continue our activities until then, after which the decision Meta makes regarding our region will become clear,” said Grigoryan.

Facebook and Instagram are widely used in Armenia, and disinformation often originates from these platforms. The collaboration between fact-checking newsrooms and Meta aimed to assist users of these social networks in resisting disinformation attacks.

“This decision was based on the fact that many posts and publications were deleted from Meta due to fact-checkers work, particularly regarding political content. However, I want to clarify that this is not accurate. Fact-checkers have no role in the mechanism used to remove posts. We tag posts that may lead to certain restrictions, but we do not have the authority to remove them. Additionally, a clear rule states that we cannot remove any statements or claims made by politicians. This is one of the fundamental principles that all fact-checkers follow. The claim that political debate has suffered because of fact-checkers is simply absurd,” said Ani Grigoryan.

Changes in Meta’s social networks may relate to the policies of the new U.S. administration under Donald Trump, according to the head of CivilNet’s Fact-Checking Department.

Several international media outlets have reported that Zuckerberg’s decision carries political implications. For instance, The New York Times highlighted a statement from Meta’s newly appointed head of global policy, Joel Kaplan. During an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Kaplan remarked that the fact-checking program exhibited “too much political bias.”

According to the Financial Times, Meta donated $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. This marks the first instance of a Facebook owner contributing to an inauguration fund, even though Trump had previously accused the platform of censoring right-wing votes and had threatened to jail its CEO.

Ani Grigoryan expressed that she believes the proposed change to implement a community notes system for users, inspired by X (formerly Twitter), is a dangerous trend. She argues that the accuracy of information will be judged based on users’ opinions, potentially leading to a “war of fakes” with serious consequences.

“Fact checkers rely on evidence and factual grounds. If an author presents valid facts, we adjust our labeling and revise our approach accordingly. However, if users are not engaging with these standards, it’s evident such mechanisms won’t guide them,” she emphasized.

Ani Grigoryan stated that the belief that freedom of speech will be restored on social media platforms is misleading: “Those who spread the most misinformation will come out on top.”