Read more at source.
Read more at source.
Fact-checking partners such as Lead Stories and Check Your Fact, who began working with Meta in 2019, were caught off guard by the announcement. Alan Duke, cofounder and editor in chief of Lead Stories, revealed that there was no advance notice. Similarly, Jesse Stiller, the managing editor of Check Your Fact, described the decision as 'totally unexpected and out of left field.'
The abrupt change has left fact-checking organizations questioning their financial futures. While Lead Stories claims to have a diverse revenue stream and operations outside of the US, the decision is expected to have a significant impact. For some, the financial implications are even more dire. An anonymous editor at a US-based fact-checking organization expressed concerns that Meta's decision could eventually 'drain us out.'
The sudden shift in Meta's fact-checking strategy raises concerns about the fight against disinformation on the platform. Since 2016, Meta has partnered with news organizations to tackle the spread of false information. With this change, the future of this endeavor remains uncertain.
The most painful part of this is losing some very good, experienced journalists, who will no longer be paid to research false claims found on Meta platforms. - Alan Duke, Lead Stories
