In a significant shift, both Twitter, now X, and Facebook have abandoned their previous efforts to monitor and verify information potentially harmful or inciting hate speech. Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who has positioned himself as a champion of free speech, revoked agreements with the European Union's Code of Practice on Disinformation in June 2023. The platform has replaced "disputed" or "non-verified" warnings with "Community Notes."
Meanwhile, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a 2019 speech, emphasized the importance of giving voice to the voiceless and creating a more inclusive society through shared experiences. However, he has since shifted his stance, arguing that most people prefer a world where unverified news can be shared. He believes that "more speech equals fewer errors" and relies on "Community Notes" to address misinformation.
The move by both platforms has sparked debate about the balance between freedom of expression and the right to accurate information. Critics argue that the absence of fact-checking mechanisms could lead to the proliferation of misinformation and hate speech. Supporters, however, maintain that restricting speech stifles free expression and that users should be able to discern truth from falsehood.