Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have sharply criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the company's recent decision to end its fact-checking program across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a strong statement condemning the move, which they claim will amplify hate speech and misinformation, undermining Meta's stated mission of fostering human connection.
"It doesn't matter whether your views are left, right, or somewhere in between-the latest news from Meta about changes to their policies directly undermines free speech," the couple said on their Archewell website. "Contrary to the company's talking points, allowing more abuse and normalizing hate speech serves to silence speech and expression, not foster it."
The couple expressed grave concern over the global implications of Zuckerberg's decision, particularly for vulnerable communities already grappling with the harmful effects of social media. "This should deeply concern us all," they wrote, adding that the changes "foster an environment where abuse and hate speech silence and threaten the voices of whole communities who make up a healthy democracy."
Meta's fact-checking program, initially introduced to combat misinformation, has been replaced with a community notes system akin to the one used on Elon Musk's platform, X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg justified the change as a return to Meta's "roots around free expression," describing the decision as part of a broader effort to simplify policies and restore free speech.
"We're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the US," Zuckerberg said in a video announcement. "It means that we're going to catch less bad stuff, but we'll also reduce the number of innocent people's posts and accounts that we accidentally take down."
Critics, including the Sussexes, argue that this shift prioritizes those spreading hate, lies, and division over the safety and integrity of users. They also raised concerns about Meta's decision to scale back hate speech restrictions, noting that the policy changes appear to align with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of social media moderation practices.
Zuckerberg's move has sparked backlash both inside and outside Meta. According to a company insider, Zuckerberg is "buckling to political pressure" ahead of Trump's inauguration. On Meta's internal chat board, employees expressed dismay, with one describing the changes as "a betrayal of everything Meta claims to stand for."
The Sussexes' statement also called on leaders across industries to uphold their commitments to online safety and public integrity. "We applaud leaders who refuse to kowtow to bullying," they said, urging Meta to reconsider its policies and reinstate measures that protect users from harm.
The decision has raised questions about brand safety for advertisers on Meta's platforms, which generate $135 billion in annual revenue. Analysts worry that unchecked misinformation and hate speech could damage Meta's reputation and alienate key advertisers.
While the couple's statement emphasized their broader concerns about the implications of Meta's policies, it also highlighted the role of social media platforms in shaping public discourse. "In an already confusing and, in many instances, intentionally disruptive information environment, Meta has shown their words and commitments have very little meaning or integrity," they wrote.
Meta's pivot to a community-driven moderation model mirrors similar shifts by Musk's X, which has faced criticism for allowing harmful content to proliferate. The UK government has also clashed with Musk over misinformation on X, with officials accusing the platform of exacerbating social tensions.
For their part, the Sussexes remain vocal advocates for online safety and equity. Their Archewell Foundation has consistently pushed for accountability in digital spaces, making their criticism of Meta a natural extension of their broader advocacy.
