Lead Stories, a prominent fact-checking organization utilized by Facebook for moderating political content, expressed disappointment and disagreement with the decision to revamp its fact-checking process in order to avoid bias. Lead Stories editor Maarten Schenk responded to Meta’s announcement by stating that they were surprised and disheartened to learn about the end of the Meta Third-Party Fact-Checking Partnership, of which Lead Stories has been a part since 2019. The organization, which employs former CNN alumni such as Alan Duke and Ed Payne, has been a key player in Facebook’s fact-checking efforts in recent years. Meta’s decision to end its fact-checking program and relax speech restrictions in an effort to „restore free expression“ has been met with mixed reactions. Lead Stories criticized Meta’s move towards a moderation system similar to Community Notes at X, highlighting concerns about transparency and accuracy. Despite the setback, Lead Stories plans to continue its fact-checking mission globally, albeit with reduced output following the loss of support from Meta. The decision has sparked criticism from conservatives, with some expressing satisfaction over the change while others voice concerns about the impact on free speech. Additionally, the executive director of Politifact, another fact-checker used by Facebook, issued a strong rebuke of Meta’s decision, emphasizing that the responsibility for content moderation lies with the platform, not the fact-checkers. Finde ihn auf Twitter @andymarkmiller und sende Tipps an [email protected].
