Meta’s Misinformation Strategy: A U-Turn Down Under?

As Australia gears up for its 2025 federal election in May, Meta has pledged to aggressively combat misinformation, including the rapidly evolving threat of deepfakes. The tech giant aims to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process by preventing election interference on its platforms.

Ironically, Meta’s strategy for Australia involves tactics recently abandoned in the U.S. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously deemed these methods, specifically third-party fact-checking, not worth the company’s resources stateside.

Cheryl Seeto, Meta’s Head of Policy in Australia, outlined the company’s approach in a recent blog post: “We have developed a comprehensive approach to help ensure the integrity of elections on our platforms… one that gives people a voice, supports participation in the civic process, and combats voter interference and foreign influence.” This includes partnering with Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Australian Associated Press (AAP) for independent content review and launching a media literacy campaign to help Australians critically assess online information.

This sharply contrasts with Zuckerberg’s January announcement, “More Speech and Fewer Mistakes,” which signaled the end of third-party fact-checking in the U.S. in favor of a Community Notes system akin to X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg argued that external censorship pressures from governments and legacy media were “clearly political.”

The apparent double standard raises questions. Why is Meta relying on fact-checking from news organizations deemed “clearly political” in Australia, while dismissing the same approach in the U.S.? The company maintains that the U.S. changes are currently isolated, with no immediate plans to alter the program in other countries. Meta also highlighted the ongoing rollout and improvement of Community Notes in the U.S., hinting at potential future expansion.

However, the implication remains: Meta might eventually implement similar changes globally. The timing is noteworthy, considering the political climate in the U.S., where the press has been labeled an enemy of the people, and Meta’s CEO has been seen making efforts to appease the current administration.

Meta’s actions in Australia will be closely watched as observers assess whether this strategy represents a genuine commitment to fighting misinformation or a calculated maneuver influenced by political considerations.

Source: 404 Media

Disclaimer: This article is a rewrite of the original news piece from 404 Media.