Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a video on Facebook this week that the company would be discontinuing its use of third-party fact-checkers in the United States. While this policy change does not yet extend to Europe, it has sparked calls for decisive action from European policymakers. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is urging leaders to take strong measures to defend journalism and journalists as disinformation and propaganda continue to proliferate on digital platforms.
Meta’s decision comes at a pivotal political moment, just weeks before Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. Zuckerberg stated that fact-checkers had been removed due to their perceived political bias, which he claimed eroded trust. In their place, Meta plans to rely on “community notes,” a user-driven content moderation system similar to the one adopted by Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg also acknowledged that the change was motivated by the incoming Trump administration.
Journalists and media professionals have expressed deep concern about the potential consequences of this shift. Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa warned that Meta’s move could lead to “extremely dangerous times” for both journalism and democracy. She cautioned that the lack of fact-checking would allow fear, anger, and hate to dominate the platform, further undermining public trust in reliable information.
In Europe, the situation is slightly different due to the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major online platforms like Facebook and Instagram to counteract illegal content and address risks related to disinformation or election interference. Before removing fact-checking measures, Meta must conduct a detailed risk assessment and submit findings to the European Commission to ensure the change does not exacerbate misinformation or electoral manipulation.
Ironically, Meta’s own 2024 EU DSA Systemic Risk Assessment praised its collaboration with European fact-checkers, describing it as instrumental in combating large-scale disinformation. This contradiction has drawn criticism from media advocates, who see the company’s recent actions as hypocritical and deeply troubling.
Maja Sever, President of the EFJ, highlighted the threat posed by digital platforms that have become powerful tools for spreading disinformation. She called on European policymakers to strengthen support for legitimate media outlets and journalists who are critical to safeguarding democracy. “The work of journalists is more important than ever,” Sever stated, “and Europe cannot remain silent in the face of this global threat.”
Ricardo Gutiérrez, EFJ General Secretary, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the economic challenges faced by traditional media outlets. He noted that many are struggling due to the appropriation of their content and advertising revenue by digital platforms. Gutiérrez urged European leaders to protect professional newsrooms that uphold rigorous journalistic standards, employ qualified reporters, and adhere to the ethical guidelines set by independent press councils.
As digital platforms increasingly dominate the dissemination of information, Europe faces a critical choice: remain passive or take bold action to support journalism as a pillar of democracy.
Image credit to the European Federation of Journalists