Zuckerberg's censorship claim 'false': International Fact-Checking Network

WASHINGTON: Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's claim that the fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram has veered into censorship is "false", the International Fact-Checking Network said Thursday.

"This is false, and we want to set the record straight, both for today's context and for the historical record," said the network of 137 organizations, including AFP, after Zuckerberg announced an end to Meta's US program.

There will be "real-world harm" if Meta expands its decision to scrap fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram beyond the United States, the International Fact-Checking Network said Thursday.

"If Meta decides to stop the program worldwide, it is almost certain to result in real-world harm in many places," said the network of more than 130 organizations, including AFP, as it warned some of more than 100 countries with similar programs are "highly vulnerable to misinformation" that spurs violence.