Meta embraces fact-checking programme that X users say is like ‘whack-a-mole’

Meta's switch to online community-based fact checking is hailed by free-speech advocates but criticised by others as an abdication of responsibility. (Image: Getty)

The Washington Post

Fri, 10 Jan 2025

By Trisha Thadani and Will OremusBefore the November election, Walt Wang said he spent 10 to 20 hours a week debunking falsehoods on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk. As election-related lies and propaganda spread throughout the site, he carefully crafted responses, backed by reputable sources, to counter the false claims before they reached millions of users.But often, he said, his efforts felt “similar to a game of whack-a-mole”. He spent hours debunking one conspiracy theory, only to watch another crop up moments l...

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