Meta fact-checking feature on Instagram sparks censorship concerns

A new fact-checking feature that Meta quietly launched on Instagram has raised concerns over censorship. A Meta spokesperson said the company is allowing users to “control the algorithm,” adding that the feature allows users to customize whether they see more or less fact-checked content in their feed.

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The spokesperson told NBC News that the feature has been rolled out after listening to what users want, “a greater ability to decide what they see on our apps.”

“We’re giving people on Facebook and Instagram even more power to control the algorithm that ranks posts in their Feed,” the Meta spokesperson said in a statement. “If someone wants to adjust the demotions on fact-checked content in their Feed, they must change the setting on their own.”

Still, the feature is facing criticism. In the last few days, some pro-Palestinian accounts have criticized the function and said that Instagram is trying to censor their content.

The fact-checking feature was launched on Facebook in May, but it is unclear when it was set in motion on Instagram, though a Meta blog post about the feature was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

In a post, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, said that Meta will launch also the fact-checking program on Threads next year.

“Wanted to share that we’re working to extend our fact-checking program on Threads next year,” Mosseri said. “We currently match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads, but our goal is for fact-checking partners to have the ability to review and rate misinformation on the app.”