Meta employees are criticizing the company's decision to end third-party fact-checking and shift to a user-generated system two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Workers expressed concerns that this move signals a disregard for facts and prioritizes free speech over safety. The announcement follows a series of decisions perceived as appeasing the incoming administration, including Meta's $1 million donation to Trump's inauguration and the appointment of Dana White, a longtime Trump friend, to the board.
Meta employees took to their internal forum, criticizing the company's decision to end third-party fact-checking on its services two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump 's inauguration.
"We're optimistic that these changes help us return to that fundamental commitment to free expression," Kaplan wrote in the post, which was reviewed by CNBC.The content policy announcement follows a string of decisions that appear targeted to appease the incoming administration. On Monday, Meta, including UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime friend of Trump, and the company confirmed in December that it was contributing $1 million to Trump's inauguration.
A separate employee said they were scared that"we're entering into really dangerous territory by paving the way for the further spread of misinformation." Although Meta announced the end of its fact-checking program Tuesday, the company had already been pulling it back. In September,Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship gestures as he speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, U.S., Oct. 27, 2024.
Some employees asked what value autos and entertainment executives could bring to Meta, and whether White's addition reflects the company's values. One post suggested the new board appointments would help with political alliances that could be valuable but could also change the company culture in unintended or unwanted ways.
"Multiple comments have been flagged by the community for review," the employee posted."It's important that we maintain a respectful work environment where people can do their best work."
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