Zuckerberg reshapes Meta policies, echoes Musk's strategy
The owner of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, is dismantling the fact-checking system on his social media platforms to align with President-elect Donald Trump, as assessed by the "Financial Times" on Monday.
"The Meta chief is showcasing a new style (...) typical of a tech industry billionaire. He has abandoned his modest gray T-shirt, tailored to his slender frame. Now he wears a baggy shirt over his muscular body, a gold chain, and a $900,000 watch, and his pallor has been replaced with a tan," observes British newspaper commentator Jemima Kelly, noting Zuckerberg's transformation.
Zuckerberg announces changes to internet policies
"Along with the change in image came a change in views. They seem to be heavily inspired by another billionaire from the West Coast of the USA," the author continues, referring to the owner of X, Elon Musk.
The "FT" commentary pertains to Zuckerberg's announcement made on January 7 at 1:00 PM ET, in which he stated he will introduce a new moderation system modeled after the X portal. This involves eliminating fact-checking and giving users a greater role in controlling content on the platforms. Zuckerberg explained his decision by citing the growing social opposition to internet censorship. These changes are set to take effect in the USA on platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Kelly notes that she also has some reservations about fact-checking, stating, "It is not possible for fact-checking to be completely objective because everyone has their biases." She also speaks positively about the plans to move the platform’s moderation team from California to Austin, a Democratic city in Republican Texas.
However, in the journalist's assessment, Zuckerberg is not driven by noble principles, but by his own interests. "It's not about principles, but (...) about catering to the future resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (the address of the White House)," she argues.
"My problem with Zuckerberg is that he lacks a (moral) backbone and is an opportunist. (...) Would Zuckerberg be making these changes to Meta if Kamala Harris had won in November?" Kelly asks.
"Even Trump doesn't think like that. Last year, he warned that Zuckerberg will spend the rest of his life in prison if he conspires against him. Asked on Tuesday if Zuckerberg's change is a response to these threats, he replied: probably yes," the author of the article recalls.
"Zuckerberg can talk about not bowing to governments, but he does—just to others. In a sense, all of this means that Zuckerberg is less dangerous than Musk. He goes with the wind," Kelly writes. "I would feel more confident, however, if the person running platforms used by two-thirds of humanity showed more courage," she concludes.
