Hey Team –

Meta has announced the end of their fact-checking program. [1] This program previously relied on third-party sources like news organizations to address misinformation and disinformation on the platform. Make no mistake: Mark Zuckerberg is trying to cozy up to Trump by creating a digital environment that makes it easier for him and his extremist allies to stoke fear, hate, and conspiracies.

These platforms seem to have forgotten what made them successful in the first place: their users. And as users, we have the power to demand better from our services – because the stakes couldn’t be higher for our democracy. Use your voice to demand that Meta reinstate its third party fact-checking services and control the spread of disinformation before it’s too late.

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Instead of relying on independent, reliable sources to fact-check content, Meta is shifting the responsibility to its users by implementing community notes on posts containing disinformation. They’re putting the onus on us to ensure we know what is and isn’t true. Any gaps in this process could lead to disinformation spreading, resulting in devastating consequences, like the violent January 6 insurrection that claimed five lives and further eroded trust in our democracy. [2]

Whether Meta likes it or not, they’re a source of information for the public. We deserve to use a platform that puts our safety and the integrity of our democracy first. It’s time to remind Meta and Mark Zuckerberg that their success depends on us. They must stop catering to the desires of our incoming administration or Zuckerberg’s billionaire lifestyle. Sign the petition to hold Meta accountable now.

In solidarity,

Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech

Sources:

The New York Times: Meta to End Fact-Checking Program in Shift Ahead of Trump Term
The New York Times: These Are the 5 People Who Died in the Capitol Riot

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