To liberal ideologues and Democratic partisans, Mark Zuckerberg's decision to end Meta's third-party "fact-checking" program is seen as a sign of surrender. As The Bulwark, an anti-Trump website, put it, Zuckerberg is merely trying to appease President-elect Donald Trump out of fear. This move is viewed as another example of big-business leaders trying to maintain favor with Trump.
However, non-leftists interpret the move differently. They see Zuckerberg's decision, much like similar actions by corporate media figures like Jeff Bezos, as a sign that such individuals recognize the importance of moving toward the political center.
Both perspectives can be correct
Zuckerberg and Bezos are ultimately driven by their desire to expand their vast fortunes, already valued in the hundreds of billions. Their actions may be cynical, but they also reflect the realities of public sentiment.
They have come to understand that allowing their influential platforms to be shaped by the ideological Left was a mistake. On issues such as gender ideology, illegal immigration, and COVID-19—along with the relentless focus on delegitimizing Trump and covering for President Biden’s mental decline—Meta and other tech giants had become out of touch with most Americans.
Furthermore, their practice of censoring opposing viewpoints in the name of combating "misinformation" was not only wrong but also detrimental to their business. This became especially clear following the 2024 election, where voters handed unified control of Washington to Republicans.
The dismantling of Facebook's censorship regime, coupled with the introduction of "community notes" to combat misinformation, mirrors steps taken by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). This represents more than just an effort to remain politically neutral—it's a pivotal win for free speech.
The tech giants, who wield far more influence than traditional media moguls, had previously used their platforms to advance ideological agendas, especially those favorable to Democrats. Their role in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story and ignoring his family's corruption in the final weeks of the 2020 election stands as one of the most significant scandals in recent political history. Their willingness to censor conservative views also extended to COVID policies, many of which were later shown to be more truthful than claims from government officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The "fact-checkers" employed by Facebook were often little more than partisan actors, just as prone to spreading misinformation as those they sought to silence. Their actions also fed into the broader culture of censorship fueled by the woke principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which have stifled debate on campuses, media outlets, and beyond. Moreover, social media bias has played a role in the rise of antisemitism in the U.S., particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
This alignment of interests between government, media, and Big Tech has come to be known as the "disinformation industrial complex"—a coalition working to suppress conservative voices and dissenting opinions on issues ranging from Trump’s presidency to woke ideologies.
This backlash against censorship was a key factor in the 2024 election, where Trump capitalized on widespread dissatisfaction with woke ideologies and elite disdain for traditional American values. His supporters hope that Trump will prioritize combating DEI policies, rather than enforcing them. While opinions on Trump vary, if his efforts have led Silicon Valley and corporate media to reconsider their role in promoting censorship, it’s a win for democracy.
Admittedly, removing Meta’s censorship programs may lead to a rise in harmful content online, but the idea that the real threat to democracy in 2025 comes from marginal neo-Nazi groups on Facebook is absurd. The true threat lies in the leftist ideologues who have been driving censorship efforts. These figures are far more likely to target pro-Trump conservatives and others who challenge liberal orthodoxy—such as those opposing anti-Israel sentiments among self-proclaimed anti-racists.
By opposing the end of censorship on Facebook, liberals may claim they are fighting hate speech or protecting Americans from misinformation. However, whether they acknowledge it or not, their position aligns them with leftist authoritarianism and antisemitism, putting them outside the political mainstream.
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