Meta has announced major changes to its content moderation policy that will be implemented over the coming months. In particular, the professional fact-checking programme has been cancelled, and the publication of certain content that was previously considered prohibited has been allowed.
But under the new rules, users can now refer to women as ‘household items’ or ‘property,’ CNN reports. It is also allowed to use derogatory terms for transgender or non-binary people. Previously, such comments were deleted as they were considered hate speech.
Meta has also allowed posts claiming mental disorders based on sexual orientation or gender identity, arguing that such statements are ‘part of political and religious discussions’.
‘We want to ensure the free exchange of ideas, even if it means we record fewer violations, but at the same time reduce the number of cases of erroneous post deletions and account bans,’ said Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
Despite the relaxation of its moderation policy, Meta assures that it will continue to prohibit direct attacks on certain groups based on race, ethnicity or religion. The company also stressed that it will continue to fight harassment, intimidation and calls for violence.
However, the policy change has raised concerns among experts who believe it could lead to an increase in hate speech and disinformation on Meta's platforms. In particular, online disinformation researcher Joan Donovan said that the relaxation of the rules could create favourable conditions for the spread of harmful content.
Other changes to Meta's policy include lifting the ban on content that denies the existence of protected groups and allowing discussions about gender-based occupational restrictions in the military, police and educational institutions.
The policy update comes amid preparations for the second term of Donald Trump's presidency, who has repeatedly accused Meta of ‘censoring’ conservative voices.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Trump welcomed the changes and noted that they could be the result of his pressure on Mark Zuckerberg.
‘This is a step in the right direction. We've been fighting against censorship for a long time, and it's great to see big companies finally recognising the importance of free speech,’ Trump said.
However, experts warn that changes in Meta's policy could lead to an increase in the number of viral fake news and hate speech on the company's platforms.