It is the conclusion of a slow turnaround. Meta, the American company of Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, announced several changes in its policy on Tuesday. Partnerships with fact-checking journalists, who verified certain viral publications on the platform, will end in the United States. In a video message, he also indicates returning to certain moderation policies on subjects such as immigration and gender, “which were originally intended to be inclusive, but which were used to stifle contrary opinions”.
A few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, the one who supported the Democratic camp’s candidacy for the 2020 American presidential election seems to be falling into line, joining other American tech figures. “Mark Zuckerberg and Meta were until then rather the good students of moderation,” comments Romain Badouard, lecturer in information and communication sciences at the University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas and author of New web laws, moderation and censorship. Today, they are expressing fed up with the pressure from the Democratic side, and a rejection of their regulatory policies. » The boss also feels the wind turning. “There is a desire in American society to move towards less regulation of public speech,” says the expert.
Limited impact in Europe
To replace fact-checking devices, Mark Zuckerberg mentioned a verification system usable by all users, similar to “community notes” on X. “The principle is not crazy, collaborative fact-checking can work », recognizes Romain Badouard. On the other hand, “we must expect an increase in radical discourse and polarization on the platform,” he says. There will surely be more extreme content. »
The phenomenon should, however, be less visible in the European Union. “For two years, the Digital Service Act (DSA) has imposed rules on large digital platforms, particularly in terms of moderation,” recalls Romain Badouard. If they want to have access to European markets, they will have to continue to meet these conditions. » With moderation teams segmented by region and language, Meta could drastically reduce its English-speaking teams, while retaining one for European countries, at least initially. “In any case, web giants are increasingly using AI for moderation. » In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg himself explained that 95% of hate speech was reported by artificial intelligence.
Facebook already losing momentum
Faced with a risk of more violent remarks and a degradation of service, can Facebook follow a trajectory similar to X after its acquisition by Elon Musk? Many users are reporting their dissatisfaction with the social network, and initiatives, such as HelloQuitteX, are taking shape to encourage Internet users to adopt other social networks, Bluesky in the lead. “As on X, there may be migrations. Afterwards, who participates in them and are they really sustainable?, nuance Romain Badouard. If these are people who were no longer active anyway, the impact is limited. »
That said, these announcements are not going to change the face of Facebook. The social network is far from its former glory, and if it is still used for some conversations, neighborhood groups and “Neurchi”, groups where we exchange unfunny memes, it is above all invaded video ads, scams and AI-generated content. “Facebook is losing momentum in Europe and the United States, which also means less content produced by users. The removal of moderation will not change much, confirms Romain Badouard. But the number of users remains growing in other regions, and it is still the most used social network in the world. »
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This change in Meta’s policy also risks worrying certain institutions and associations. “The defense of absolute freedom of expression always results in more violence, and it has become the battlehorse of the extreme right, including in Europe,” insists Romain Badouard. Before suggesting an alternative: “Rather than seeking to regulate, we must also question the need to create alternative social networks. » Even if good will and love of one’s neighbor have never paid for the servers of a social network.
