POLITICO Tech A former fact checker on Meta’s big changes
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Jan 13, 2025 Alexios Mantzarlis, Director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech and former founding director of the International Fact-Checking Network, shares his insights on the recent changes at Meta. He challenges Mark Zuckerberg's critique of fact-checkers, arguing that the shift could undermine trust and escalate misinformation. The discussion reveals the complexities of bias in social media fact-checking, the risks of crowdsourced systems, and the urgent need for accountability in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
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Zuckerberg's Fact-Checking Overhaul
- Mark Zuckerberg's critique of fact-checkers was unexpected and politically charged.
- He replaced fact-checkers with a community notes model, similar to Elon Musk's approach on X.
Political Motivations
- Zuckerberg's mention of Elon Musk and Trump suggests political motivations behind the decision.
- Terminating the fact-checking program seems like an attempt to appease President-elect Trump.
Fact-Checker Bias
- Zuckerberg's claim of fact-checker bias might stem from an imbalance in false news sharing.
- A study showed U.S. conservatives shared more false news on Twitter than liberals, potentially explaining the perceived bias.