Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is indeed shutting down its fact-checking program in the US. As of Monday, the program will be “officially over,” meaning no new fact-checks will be conducted, and the fact-checkers will be let go.

This move is part of a larger shift towards community-based moderation, where users will be responsible for flagging and correcting misinformation. Meta will introduce “Community Notes” on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which will allow users to add notes to posts that may be misleading or inaccurate.

Critics argue that this change may lead to an increase in misinformation, as users may not have the expertise or resources to effectively fact-check claims. Additionally, there are concerns that this shift may disproportionately harm marginalized communities, who may be more vulnerable to hate speech and misinformation.

It’s worth noting that Meta’s decision comes amid a broader debate about the role of social media companies in regulating online speech. While some argue that companies like Meta have too much power over online discourse, others believe that they have a responsibility to protect users from harm.

Overall, the implications of Meta’s decision are still unclear, but it’s likely to have significant impacts on the online information landscape.