What would be the impact if Facebook stopped censoring content?

(CLO) Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, suddenly announced a major change in content moderation policy on its platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, shared in a video that the company will abandon its third-party fact-checking system and move to a community-based annotation model, similar to what X (formerly Twitter) is using.

Zuckerberg explained that the review was "biased" in the content being selected for moderation, adding that he wanted to ensure free speech on all platforms. "It's time to go back to our roots around free speech," he wrote in the post, which was accompanied by a five-minute video.

The new policy will include a community notes system where users can comment, rate, and clarify false or misleading information. Instead of relying solely on outside fact-checking organizations, the user community will play a key role in determining the accuracy of information on the platform.

Meta plans to roll out the feature over the next few months, applying it to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, platforms that attract more than 3 billion global users.

Illustration: Unsplash

The move has also been controversial, especially since Meta plans to move its content moderation teams from California to Texas.

Some experts say the decision is politically motivated, as Texas has stronger free speech protections and a different view on content moderation than California.

Many have argued that the change could facilitate politically extreme and misleading posts.

Additionally, several fact-checking organizations such as PolitiFact and AFP Fact Check have criticized Meta, arguing that abandoning fact-checking is not beneficial to users and could increase misinformation on social media.

They also warn that relying on the community to judge the accuracy of information could lead to a lack of control and create targeted attacks aimed at manipulating public opinion.

A recent study from the University of Illinois found that X’s community notes feature was effective in reducing the spread of misinformation. However, other studies have found that community notes can interfere with posts that spread misinformation, and that some posts never reach “helpful” status in the system. This allows false posts to continue to spread without being corrected in a timely manner.

While some have praised Meta's decision, arguing that it is a major step forward in protecting free speech and combating censorship by traditional media, others are concerned that the change will lead to an increase in posts containing harmful or misleading content.

Proponents of the change say Meta is ushering in a new era where users will decide for themselves about the information they consume, rather than relying on outside organizations.

Meta's community notes feature will be rolled out first in the US, followed by other regions like Europe, China, and Latin America. However, these countries have strict censorship laws, making the feature's rollout difficult.

The move could spark a wave of change in how information is censored on social media, while opening up debate about free speech and the responsibility of tech companies to ensure accurate information online.

Hoai Phuong (according to Meta, AJ, Bloomberg)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/viec-facebook-ngung-kiem-duyet-noi-dung-se-co-tac-hai-nhu-the-nao-post329970.html