mark zuckerberg nyt
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has just announced the end of third-party fact-checking services on his platforms. Photo: NYT

Since 2016, Meta has paid more than $100 million to organizations certified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to verify information on its platform.

Through this, posts on Facebook, Instagram... are evaluated for accuracy and reach is reduced if the information is false.

Many major newspapers such as USA Today and Reuters have partnered with Meta to do this. In the US, 10 newspapers list Meta as a partner.

According to The Guardian , some of Meta's partners confirmed that they will suffer financial losses, which could lead to the risk of having to lay off staff. Lead Stories co-founder Alan Duke, one of the verification partners, said that he will cut staff due to the loss of revenue.

Lead Stories is hiring about 80 people globally and also does fact-checking for TikTok parent company ByteDance.

Jesse Stiller, editor of Check Your Fact, a division of the Daily Caller, said he was shocked by Meta's decision and "uncertain about the future." A spokesperson told CNN that Check Your Fact's work will be severely impacted and operations will be suspended.

Meta will also contribute more than 5% of PolitiFact's total revenue in 2024. The fact-checking organization said the impact on finances and journalists was "inevitable."

AFP, Meta's verification partner, learned of the news after the company made the announcement. An AFP spokesperson said the news agency was assessing the situation.

The abrupt decision from Facebook’s parent company stands in stark contrast to a 2022 blog post in which Meta boasted of “building the largest fact-checking network in the world.” Fact-checking organizations also responded to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments that they were politically “biased.”

It’s unclear what newspapers and organizations can do to fill the financial void left by Meta. Lead Stories and PolitiFact say they will not shut down and will continue to fight for the truth.

(According to The Guardian)