Technology giant Meta, led by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has announced the end of its fact-checking program, created in 2012 to combat the spread of misinformation on its social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Zuckerberg criticized governments in Europe and Latin America for trying to regulate social media use, claiming that laws against fake news and cyber crimes represent censorship.
The decision sparked immediate reactions globally, with concerns raised by Brazilian officials about the impact on elections and the urgency for social media regulation.
Politicians and researchers condemned Meta’s alignment with the extreme right, highlighting the potential threats to institutions and democracies posed by the company’s stance.