1776Reporting
Meta has announced the termination of its U.S.-based fact-checking partnerships, opting instead to rely on a crowdsourced moderation system similar to X’s community notes. This unexpected shift has sent shockwaves through the global fact-checking community, prompting the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to convene an emergency meeting.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, affects the financial stability of many fact-checking organizations that have relied on Meta’s partnerships for years. The IFCN’s director, Angie Holan, confirmed to Business Insider that the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, was urgently organized in direct response to Meta’s decision.
“We hold these meetings monthly, but we called this one specifically because of today’s news,” Holan said.
An Industry in Transition
The meeting will bring together 80 to 100 fact-checkers from IFCN’s global network of 170 organizations. While not all attendees are Meta partners, many are concerned about the ripple effects this decision could have across the industry.
Meta’s collaboration with third-party fact-checkers began in 2016, aiming to combat misinformation after a tumultuous U.S. presidential election. Partner organizations were certified by the IFCN, ensuring they met strict editorial and transparency standards. These partnerships became central to Meta’s misinformation mitigation strategy, which focused on flagging false content, adding context, and limiting its spread.
Disappointment Among Fact-Checkers
The mood within the fact-checking community is grim. Holan described the decision as both frustrating and disheartening.
“This program has been a major part of the global fact-checking community’s work for years,” she said. “People are upset because they saw themselves as partners in good standing with Meta, doing important work to make the platform more accurate and reliable.”
Holan emphasized that the fact-checkers were not censors but facilitators of accurate information. “It was never about censorship but about adding context to prevent false claims from going viral,” she explained.
Abrupt Notification
The decision blindsided many. PolitiFact, one of Meta’s earliest partners, learned about the termination on the same day as the public.
“The PolitiFact team found out this morning at the same time as everyone else,” an employee told Business Insider.
An IFCN employee revealed that their organization received a late-night email from Meta, hinting at the change just hours before the official announcement.
“I had a feeling it was bad news,” the employee admitted.
Meta has not responded to requests for comment regarding the decision.
Financial Impact Looms Large
Meta’s withdrawal could leave fact-checking organizations in financial distress. Many groups relied heavily on Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program for funding. A 2023 IFCN report highlighted that Meta was a key revenue source for many fact-checkers.
“Fact-checking isn’t going away,” Holan said. “But some fact-checking initiatives were created because of Meta’s support, and those will be vulnerable.”
She acknowledged the broader financial pressures fact-checkers face, comparing them to the challenges of modern newsrooms. “This is bad news for the financial sustainability of fact-checking journalism,” she said.
Concerns About Crowdsourced Moderation
Meta plans to replace its fact-checking program with a community notes system, mirroring X’s model. However, Holan questioned its effectiveness.
“Community notes on X have only worked in cases where there’s bipartisan agreement — and how often does that happen?” she asked. “When two political sides disagree, there’s no independent way to flag something as false.”
Details about how Meta’s system will function remain unclear.
The Road Ahead
Despite the upheaval, Holan reaffirmed the IFCN’s commitment to its mission.
“The IFCN was here before Meta’s program, and we’ll be here after it,” she said. “We may look different in size and scope, but we’ll continue promoting the highest standards in fact-checking and connecting organizations that want to collaborate worldwide.”
The IFCN’s emergency meeting will focus on supporting its members as they adjust to this sudden change.
“We’re here to help them figure out the best way forward,” Holan concluded.
Meta’s decision marks a turning point for the fact-checking industry, raising concerns about how misinformation will be tackled in the absence of expert-led systems. Whether the new approach will succeed or falter remains to be seen.
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