Dana(DAN) CNBC·2025-01-07 20:18Company Policy Changes - Meta announced the end of its third-party fact-checking program, shifting to a user-generated system similar to X's Community Notes [4] - The company will lift restrictions on certain topics and focus enforcement on illegal and high-severity violations while offering a more personalized approach to political content [4] - Meta's new chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, stated that the changes aim to return to a fundamental commitment to free expression [2] Employee Reactions - Some Meta employees expressed concern that the policy changes could lead to an influx of racist and transphobic content, particularly around topics like immigration and gender identity [4] - One employee criticized the decision, stating that it sends a message that facts no longer matter and conflates this with a victory for free speech [4] - Another employee expressed fear that the changes could pave the way for the further spread of misinformation [4] - However, some employees supported the decision, with one noting that X's Community Notes feature has proven to be a better representation of the ground truth [4] Strategic Moves - Meta added new members to its board, including UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime friend of Donald Trump [3] - The company confirmed a $1 million contribution to Trump's inauguration [3] - Meta had already been scaling back its fact-checking program, with the AP's agreement ending in January 2024 [6] Historical Context - Meta previously scrapped an internal fact-checking project in 2023 as part of its massive layoffs, which would have allowed third-party fact-checkers like the Associated Press and Reuters to verify flagged content [5]