AEC watching for Meta move on Australian fact-checking as election looms
The election watchdog says it will monitor changes to social media platforms following Meta's decision to end third-party fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in the US.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is monitoring whether Meta’s decision to stop using independent fact-checking organisations will extend to Australia ahead of the federal election, as the agency looks to boost its own presence on digital and mainstream channels.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced overnight a suite of major changes for Facebook, Instagram and Threads, saying Donald Trump's election win represents a “cultural tipping point” in favour of free speech. Among the changes is an end to the use of third-party fact checkers in the United States, but it remains unclear whether this will soon extend to other jurisdictions including Australia.
A federal election is due by 17 May, while Western Australia is scheduled to hold its election on 8 March.
Capital Brief reported earlier today that Meta will not end its third-party fact-checking partnerships in Australia, which are currently set to run until the end of this year, for now.
