{"id":6159,"date":"2025-01-10T12:32:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T12:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1307007.us31.myftpupload.com\/?p=6159"},"modified":"2025-02-10T12:59:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:59:15","slug":"an-open-letter-to-mark-zuckerberg-from-the-worlds-fact-checkers-nine-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enspirefx.com\/royale\/an-open-letter-to-mark-zuckerberg-from-the-worlds-fact-checkers-nine-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"An open letter to Mark Zuckerberg from the world\u2019s fact-checkers, nine years later"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As Meta announces end to U.S. fact-checking, program partners warn of a setback for accuracy online and potential global consequences<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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By: The International Fact-Checking Network\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

January 9, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,<\/span><\/p>\n

Nine years ago, we<\/span> wrote<\/span><\/a> to you about the real-world harms caused by false information on Facebook. <\/span>In response, Meta created a fact-checking program that helped protect millions of users from hoaxes and conspiracy theories. This week, you announced you\u2019re ending that program in the United States because of concerns about \u201ctoo much censorship\u201d \u2014 a decision that threatens to undo nearly a decade of progress in promoting accurate information online.<\/p>\n

The program that <\/span>launched<\/span><\/a> in 2016 was a strong step forward in encouraging factual accuracy online. It helped people have a positive experience on Facebook, Instagram and Threads by reducing the spread of false and misleading information in their feeds. We believe \u2014 and data shows \u2014 most people on social media are looking for <\/span>reliable<\/span><\/a> information to make decisions about their lives and to have good interactions with friends and family. Informing users about false information in order to slow its spread, without censoring, was the goal. Fact-checkers strongly support freedom of expression, and we\u2019ve said that<\/span> repeatedly<\/span><\/a> and formally in last year\u2019s <\/span>Sarajevo statement<\/span><\/a>. The freedom to say why something is not true is also free speech.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you say the program has become \u201ca tool to censor,\u201d and that \u201cfact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they\u2019ve created, especially in the U.S.\u201d This is false, and we want to set the record straight, both for today\u2019s context and for the historical record.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meta required all fact-checking partners to meet strict nonpartisanship standards through <\/span>verification<\/span><\/a> by the International Fact-Checking Network. This meant no affiliations with political parties or candidates, no policy advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to objectivity and transparency. Each news organization undergoes rigorous annual verification, <\/span>including<\/span><\/a> independent assessment and peer review. Far from questioning these standards, Meta has consistently <\/span>praised<\/span><\/a> their rigor and effectiveness. Just a year ago, Meta extended the program to Threads.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your <\/span>comments<\/span><\/a> suggest fact-checkers were responsible for censorship, even though Meta never gave fact-checkers the ability or the authority to remove content or accounts. People online have often blamed and harassed fact-checkers for Meta\u2019s actions. Your recent comments will no doubt fuel those perceptions. But the reality is that Meta staff decided on how content found to be false by fact-checkers should be downranked or labeled. Several fact-checkers over the years have suggested to Meta how it could improve this labeling to be less intrusive and avoid even the appearance of censorship, but Meta never acted on those suggestions. Additionally, Meta <\/span>exempted<\/span><\/a> politicians and political candidates from fact-checking as a precautionary measure, even when they spread known falsehoods. Fact-checkers, meanwhile, said that politicians should be fact-checked like anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Meta provided only limited information on the program\u2019s results, even though fact-checkers and independent researchers asked again and again for more data. But from what we could tell, the program was effective. Research indicated fact-check labels reduced belief in and sharing of false information.\u00a0 And in your own testimony to Congress, you boasted about Meta\u2019s \u201cindustry-leading fact-checking program.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You said that you plan to start a Community Notes program similar to that of X. We do not believe that this type of program will result in a positive user experience, as X has demonstrated. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows<\/span><\/a> that many Community Notes never get displayed, because they depend on widespread political consensus rather than on standards and evidence for accuracy. Even so, there is no reason Community Notes couldn\u2019t co-exist with the third-party fact-checking program; they are not mutually exclusive. A Community Notes model that works in collaboration with professional fact-checking would have strong potential as a new model for promoting accurate information. The need for this is great: If people believe social media platforms are full of scams and hoaxes, they won\u2019t want to spend time there or do business on them.<\/span><\/p>\n

That brings us to the political context in the United States. Your announcement\u2019s timing came after President-Elect Donald Trump\u2019s election certification and as part of a broader response from the tech industry to the incoming administration. Mr. <\/span>Trump himself said<\/span><\/a> your announcement was \u201cprobably\u201d in response to threats he\u2019s made against you. Some of the journalists that are part of our fact-checking community have experienced similar threats from governments in the countries where they work, so we understand how hard it is to resist this pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan to end the fact-checking program in 2025 applies only to the United States, for now. But Meta has similar programs in more than 100 countries that are all highly diverse, at different stages of democracy and development. Some of these countries are highly vulnerable to misinformation that spurs <\/span>political instability<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>election interference<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>mob violence<\/span><\/a> and even <\/span>genocide<\/span><\/a>. If Meta decides to stop the program worldwide, it is almost certain to result in real-world harm in many places.<\/span><\/p>\n

This moment underlines the need for more funding for public service journalism. Fact-checking is essential to maintaining shared realities and evidence-based discussion, both in the United States and globally. The philanthropic sector has an opportunity to increase its investment in journalism at a critical time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most importantly, we believe the decision to end Meta\u2019s third-party fact-checking program is a step backward for those who want to see an internet that prioritizes accurate and trustworthy information. We hope that somehow we can make up this ground in the years to come. We remain ready to work again with Meta, or any other technology platform that is interested in engaging fact-checking as a tool to give people the information they need to make informed decisions about their daily lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access to truth fuels freedom of speech, empowering communities to align their choices with their values. As journalists, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the freedom of the press, ensuring that the pursuit of truth endures as a cornerstone of democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Respectfully,<\/p>\n

15min\u00a0\u2013 Lithuania<\/p>\n

AAP FactCheck\u00a0\u2013 Australia<\/p>\n

AFP\u00a0\u2013 France<\/p>\n

AkhbarMeter Media Observatory\u00a0\u2013 Egypt<\/p>\n

Animal Pol\u00edtico-El Sabueso\u00a0\u2013 M\u00e9xico<\/p>\n

Annie Lab\u00a0\u2013 Hong Kong SAR<\/p>\n

Aos Fatos\u00a0\u2013 Brazil<\/p>\n

Beam Reports\u00a0\u2013 Sudan<\/p>\n

BOOM\u00a0\u2013 India<\/p>\n

Check Your Fact\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Chequeado\u00a0\u2013 Argentina<\/p>\n

Civilnet.am\u00a0\u2013 Armenia<\/p>\n

Colombiacheck\u00a0\u2013 Colombia<\/p>\n

Congo Check\u00a0: Congo, Congo DR, Central African Rep<\/p>\n

Do\u011fruluk Pay\u0131\u00a0\u2013 T\u00fcrkiye<\/p>\n

Dubawa\u00a0\u2013 Nigeria<\/p>\n

Ecuador Chequea\u00a0\u2013 Ecuador<\/p>\n

Ellinika Hoaxes\u00a0\u2013 Greece<\/p>\n

Estad\u00e3o Verifica\u00a0\u2013 Brazil<\/p>\n

FactCheckHub\u00a0\u2013 Nigeria<\/p>\n

Fact-Check Cyprus\u00a0\u2013 Cyprus<\/p>\n

FactCheck.org\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

FactCheckNI\u00a0\u2013 Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

Factcheck.Vlaanderen\u00a0\u2013 Belgium<\/p>\n

Factchequeado\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Factly\u00a0\u2013 India<\/p>\n

FactReview\u00a0\u2013 Greece<\/p>\n

Factnameh\u00a0\u2013 Iran<\/p>\n

Faktisk.no\u00a0\u2013 Norway<\/p>\n

Faktograf\u00a0\u2013 Croatia<\/p>\n

Fakt Yoxla\u00a0\u2013 Azerbaijan<\/p>\n

Fatabyyano\u00a0\u2013 Jordan<\/p>\n

Full Fact\u00a0\u2013 United Kingdom<\/p>\n

Greece Fact Check\u00a0\u2013 Greece<\/p>\n

Gwara Media\u00a0\u2013 Ukraine<\/p>\n

Internews Kosova KALLXO\u00a0\u2013 Kosovo<\/p>\n

Istinomer\u00a0\u2013 Serbia<\/p>\n

K\u00e4llkritikbyr\u00e5n\u00a0\u2013 Sweden<\/p>\n

KOMPAS.com\u00a0\u2013 Indonesia<\/p>\n

La Silla Vac\u00eda\u00a0\u2013 Colombia<\/p>\n

Lead Stories\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Les Surligneurs\u00a0\u2013 France<\/p>\n

Lupa\u00a0\u2013 Brazil<\/p>\n

Mafindo\u00a0\u2013 Indonesia<\/p>\n

Mala Espina\u00a0\u2013 Chile<\/p>\n

MediaWise\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Metamorphosis\u00a0\u2013 North Macedonia<\/p>\n

MyGoPen\u00a0\u2013 Taiwan<\/p>\n

Myth Detector\u00a0\u2013 Georgia<\/p>\n

Newschecker\u00a0\u2013 India<\/p>\n

Newtral\u00a0\u2013 Spain<\/p>\n

Observador\u00a0\u2013 Portugal<\/p>\n

Open\u00a0\u2013 Italy<\/p>\n

Pagella Politica\u00a0\/ Facta news \u2013 Italy<\/p>\n

Pol\u00edgrafo\u00a0\u2013 Portugal<\/p>\n

PolitiFact\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Pravda\u00a0\u2013 Poland<\/p>\n

PressOne.PH\u00a0\u2013 Philippines<\/p>\n

Probe\u00a0\u2013 Philippines<\/p>\n

Rappler\u00a0\u2013 Philippines<\/p>\n

RMIT Lookout\u00a0\u2013 Australia<\/p>\n

Snopes\u00a0\u2013 United States of America<\/p>\n

Taiwan FactCheck Center\u00a0\u2013 Taiwan<\/p>\n

Tech4Peace\u00a0\u2013 Iraq<\/p>\n

Telugu Post\u00a0\u2013 India<\/p>\n

The Stage Media-Liberia\u2013\u00a0 Liberia<\/p>\n

Tirto.id\u00a0\u2013 Indonesia<\/p>\n

The Journal FactCheck\u00a0\u2013 Ireland<\/p>\n

The Logical Indian\u00a0\u2013 India<\/p>\n

VERA Files\u00a0\u2013 Philippines<\/p>\n

Verify\u00a0\u2013 Syria<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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