Meta is replacing professional fact-checking with its Community Notes system on the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram in Latin America, which experts warn may harm the quality of public debate in a region undergoing a shift to the far right. The new system, inspired by the model implemented by X, Elon Musk's platform, replaces verification carried out by independent journalists.
Brazil is not on the list of countries where Community Notes will be implemented, due to rules established by the Brazilian government. Alejandro Martín del Campo, from the Media Observatory of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, warned that, since Meta continues to dominate social media consumption in Latin America, without a fact-checking program, the consequences may be considerable for misinformation to spread more rapidly.
According to data from the LatamChequea conglomerate, 14 agencies in the region participated in Meta's verification program launched earlier, indicating that the change represents a significant alteration in the way misinformation is combated on the platform in Latin America.
