SHAH ALAM - Meta's decision to eliminate independent fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in favour of a ‘Community Notes’ model has sparked global concern.
While the changes will initially apply only in the United States (US), the implications raise questions about their potential ripple effects in Malaysia.
Meta Abandons Fact-Checkers for ‘Community Notes’
On Jan 7, Meta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of the company's eight-year-old fact-checking program on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, replacing it with a ‘Community Notes’ system.
This crowdsourced mechanism is modelled after a similar feature on X (formerly Twitter).
Zuckerberg defended the move, saying, "We have reached a point where there are just too many mistakes and too much censorship. It is time to get back to our roots around free expression."
He further explained that the changes were meant to address growing public dissatisfaction with content moderation.
"Community Notes will be more effective than fact-checkers, reducing the number of people whose accounts get mistakenly banned,” Zuckerberg wrote on Threads.
However, he admitted there would be trade-offs, saying, "It means we are going to catch less bad stuff, but we will also reduce the number of innocent people's posts and accounts that we accidentally take down."
Political Undertones and Global Reactions
Zuckerberg attributed the policy shift to a broader cultural moment following the US elections, calling it a "tipping point” for prioritising open speech.
Critics, however, viewed the move as politically motivated.
Ava Lee from Global Witness argued, "Zuckerberg's announcement is a blatant attempt to cozy up to the incoming Trump administration, with harmful implications."
The changes come as Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, replaces Sir Nick Clegg as Meta's Global Affairs Chief, signalling a shift in the company’s political priorities.
Meta’s decision to align its policies closer to free speech ideals is seen by some as a reaction to criticisms of censorship from US conservatives.
Fact-Checkers Respond
Fact-checking organisations have expressed disappointment. Angie Drobnic Holan, Director of the International Fact-Checking Network, said, "Fact-checking journalism has never censored or removed posts; it has added information and context to controversial claims."
She criticised the decision as a response to "extreme political pressure from a new administration.”
Fact-checking organisation Full Fact CEO Chris Morris called the decision "disappointing and a backwards step,” warning of its global ramifications.
The programme has previously helped debunk misinformation in 119 countries, including major markets like Europe, India and Brazil.
What Does This Mean for Malaysia?
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil acknowledged that Meta’s decision would not immediately affect Malaysia.
"At the moment, I do not see it affecting the Malaysian market, only the US,” he said.
He highlighted that the ‘Community Notes’ model had pros and cons, mentioning its potential to elevate user-generated corrections.
However, he added that the ministry would reach out to Meta to better understand the implications.
The removal of independent fact-checking raises concerns about the spread of misinformation, especially in politically sensitive contexts.
While Malaysia is not directly impacted for now, the absence of independent oversight could eventually influence global moderation policies.
Malaysia’s Social Media Licensing Law: A Safety Net?
Malaysia’s new social media licensing law, effective Jan 1, requires platforms with over eight million Malaysian users to apply for an annual license.
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X must adhere to stricter regulations to maintain their licenses.
This framework aims to enhance accountability, potentially serving as a safeguard against the effects of Meta's policy changes.
The licensing requirement could compel social media platforms to retain higher moderation standards in Malaysia. While not a direct replacement for fact-checking, the law may act as a deterrent to the spread of unchecked misinformation.
For Malaysia, the question remains whether the new licensing laws can offset the loss of independent verification tools.
As Fahmi pointed out, the concept of ‘Community Notes’ has potential, but only time will reveal its effectiveness in addressing misinformation.
Strengthening regulatory frameworks and fostering digital literacy may be crucial in navigating this new era of online moderation.