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Meta’s discontinuation of third-party fact-checking programme blow to democracy—Dapo Olorunyomi

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Dapo Olorunyomi, the Publisher of Premium Times, has criticised Meta’s decision to discontinue its third-party fact-checking programme in favour of a community-driven model, among other content moderation strategy modifications to be implemented. 

Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, announced the recent development on Monday, Jan. 7, 2025, stating that it was the company’s response to growing criticism of political bias against conservative parties in fact-checking processes conducted by media organisations in the United States. 

In reaction, Olorunyomi said that fact-checking organisations in third-world countries would bear the brunt, as many rely heavily on partnerships with social media platforms like Meta for their revenue. 

“A lot of third-world fact-checking organisations depend—between 80% and 100%, in some cases—on their revenue from this third-party partnership,” he said. 

The media mogul noted that Meta’s abrupt decision raises concerns about the future of fact-checking and accountability in the media sector and tech companies.

He frowned at Meta’s decision to only reveal it to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), the governing body that spearheaded the project only 30 minutes before it was made public. 

Olorunyomi noted that Elon Musk’s influence on the US media landscape worsens the battle to uphold truth and democracy, suggesting that his radical approach has contributed to a problematic relationship between technology and democratic values. 

“It’s not as if it’s lesser outside than in the U.S. It’s as bad in the US as it is in countries like Brazil and the Philippines, where tech communities and central governments are pushing back,” he said.

“It also speaks to how it affects the revenue structure of media houses, the strong arm of tech communities, and the danger that technology can pose to democracy. It’s not always true that things will get better with new technology,” he said. “Those who think that, once technology lands, the solution has arrived, can now see that how we manage technology with human agency matters more.”

Olorunyomi warned that this could increase misinformation, as users may not have the expertise necessary to assess claims made online accurately. He stressed the importance of recalibrating algorithms to mitigate the spread of falsehoods rather than relying solely on user-generated content for context.

He, however, anticipates pushback from various stakeholders concerned with the potential consequences for political participation and public discourse that the announcement can bring. He revealed that efforts are ongoing within the IFCN to handle the situation. 

Also, he called for innovative responses to adapt to this new development, advocating for synergy between technology and human agency to uphold democratic values. 

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