Meta is significantly altering its content moderation policies, ending its third-party fact-checking program in favor of a community-based system similar to X’s Community Notes. This shift, impacting Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, aims to reduce moderation errors and prioritize free expression, while still aggressively addressing high-severity violations like terrorism and child exploitation. The changes also include relaxing content policies on certain issues and increasing the threshold for content removal. These adjustments follow criticism of Meta’s moderation practices and reflect a broader industry trend towards less stringent content control.
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A political group supported by billionaire Elon Musk is using a Facebook account tagged “Progress 2028” to disseminate misleading advertisements suggesting that Kamala Harris endorses certain policies that she in fact does not. These include wanting to implement mandatory gun buybacks, bestowing Medicare benefits and driving licenses to illegal immigrants, and banning fracking. The ads are sponsored by Building America’s Future, a secret fundraisers funded by Musk and others, and tied to over $100 million Musk has spent backing the re-election bid of Donald Trump. As these advertisements are not technically in breach of Meta’s advertising policies and are protected by the American First Amendment, they cannot be removed, even though they have the potential to mislead voters. The advertisements have been viewed by millions in swing states so far.
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Misinformation running rampant on Facebook has officials concerned about election disruptions. It’s a headline that seems all too familiar, yet the issue persists with no real solution in sight. The problem is not new, with Facebook being a cesspool of fake news, conspiracy theories, and propaganda for years now. Yet, despite the clear danger it poses to the democratic process, little has been done to truly combat the spread of misinformation on the platform.
The recent revelations about Russia’s use of social media to fuel instability in Western nations is just the tip of the iceberg. It is not just foreign actors that are using Facebook as a tool to manipulate public opinion, but also domestic groups and individuals who have realized the power of spreading lies and falsehoods to achieve their own agenda.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker