How Meta’s fact-checking shift threatens human rights

By scrapping its fact-checking programme while relaxing its moderation policies in the United States last month, Meta risks, as it has done in the past, harming already marginalised populations. The United Nations and the European Union remain a bulwark against these latest social media developments. “It's time to get back to our roots around freedom of expression on Facebook and Instagram,” declared Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg in a video published on January 7. Citing years of pressure from governments and traditional media and the start of a new era marking a "cultural tipping point", the world's third richest man took advantage of the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20 to announce a series of measures aimed at combating “censorship” on his platforms. These changes only concern the United States for now, but they have already sparked strong international reactions. Human rights groups are concerned about the harmful effects they could have on already vulnerable ...