Soon-to-be-out-of-job Meta’s Fact-checkers Battle a Blaze of Wildfire Conspiracy Theories

By Evans Momodu
2 minute digest


Just hours after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the elimination of US-based fact-checkers, wildfires erupted in the iconic hills above Los Angeles, quickly escalating into a firestorm that overwhelmed fire crews. As flames raged, misinformation spread online almost as fast, fuelling conspiracy theories and panic.

Meta’s decision to end its fact-checking program, expected to take full effect by March, has raised concerns among its partners, such as Lead Stories and PolitiFact, which are now battling to curb false narratives about the disaster.

These organisations, funded by Meta, face an uncertain future as the company withdraws financial support, potentially leading to layoffs or closures.

Alan Duke, co-founder of Lead Stories and a Los Angeles resident, described the situation as dire; “Cutting fact-checkers from social platforms is like disbanding your fire department.” He and his team worked tirelessly to debunk viral misinformation, including a widely shared Instagram video falsely claiming looting amid the fires.

In reality, the men in the video were the homeowner’s family rescuing belongings. Meta flagged the post as misleading, reducing its visibility and notifying users who attempted to share it.

PolitiFact, a Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking group, also played a critical role. It debunked a viral Threads post falsely alleging MAGA-affiliated suspects were responsible for the fires, as well as an AI-generated image of the Hollywood sign engulfed in flames.

Much of the misinformation bore a partisan slant, amplifying tension and spreading beyond Meta’s platforms through prominent influencers.

Critics argue that Meta's move to end its fact-checking program risks allowing such harmful narratives to proliferate unchecked, undermining efforts to combat misinformation during crises.
Soources: CNN