Full Fact responds to Meta ending support for US fact checkers

Meta, the owners of Facebook, Instagram and Threads has announced an end to support for third-party fact checking in the United States. 

Chris Morris, Chief Executive of Full Fact, responds:

Meta’s decision to end its partnership with fact checkers in the US is disappointing and a backwards step that risks a chilling effect around the world.

From safeguarding elections to protecting public health to dissipating potential unrest on the streets, fact checkers are first responders in the information environment. Our specialists are trained to work in a way that promotes credible evidence and prioritises tackling harmful information - we believe the public has a right to access our expertise. We absolutely refute Meta's charge of bias - we are strictly impartial, fact check claims from all political stripes with equal rigour, and hold those in power to account through our commitment to truth.  

Like Meta, fact checkers are committed to promoting free speech based on good information without resorting to censorship. But locking fact checkers out of the conversation won’t help society to turn the tide on rapidly rising misinformation.

Misinformation doesn’t respect borders, so European fact checkers will be closely examining this development to understand what it means for our shared information environment.

Full Fact campaigns to ensure a better information environment for everyone. We scrutinise all sides in any political debate impartially, and hold everyone in public office to high standards.

Full Fact has participated in Meta’s Third Party Fact Checking Programme since January 2019 in which we check images, videos and articles on Meta platforms and receive income depending on the amount of fact checking done under the programme. We have published independent reports on the programme with recommendations for improvements. We disclose all funding we receive over £5,000—you can see these figures here. We are editorially independent and our funders have no editorial control over our content.