Meta's recent decision to replace its longstanding fact-checking model with community notes on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads may have significant implications for content moderation companies and business outsourcing firms, particularly in Africa. The shift could lead to job losses for hundreds of contractors in Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, and potentially affect the capacity to combat misinformation.

The decision to drop fact-checking is a huge blow to Africa, where misinformation thrives. In Kenya, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram have millions of users who face unchecked exposure to manipulative content without fact-checking. Governments across the continent have weaponized disinformation for over a decade, which could soon become a crisis, according to Emmanuel Chenze, the COO at African Uncensored.

Chenze highlighted the importance of fact-checking initiatives in countering misinformation, citing the example of Cambridge Analytica's psyops and doctored videos like "Real Raila" in 2017. He warned that the lack of machinery to counter disinformation could lead to a mess in upcoming elections in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

Meta's decision to stop the current moderation model was announced on January 7, citing claims that the fact-checking program, launched in 2016, "too often became a tool to censor." The company plans to adopt a community-driven approach, empowering users to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context. However, this shift could result in job losses for African content moderators who monitor Meta's platforms for harmful content.

The impact of Meta's decision will also be felt by fact-checking firms, which may struggle to sustain operations without funding from the social media giant. PesaCheck, a fact-checking organization, received 43% of its 2023 funding from Meta, followed by TikTok, which contributed 18%. The organization's ability to address harmful content and safeguard public discourse may be limited without sufficient funding.

Meta's financial relationships with content moderation partners will also be affected by the shift to community notes. The company has worked with third-party fact-checkers to address misinformation, but the financial details of these partnerships have not been disclosed. Fact-checkers employ trained moderators who are key in addressing nuanced issues, and they risk losing their jobs as Meta pivots to a user-driven system.

Content moderation has had mixed results in Africa, with multiple legal actions against Meta. Over 180 ex-moderators claim they flagged violent content for little pay, without psychological support from their employers. The Kenyan government is pursuing a law to hold outsourcing firms liable for employee claims.

Meta's changes are limited to the U.S., leaving the European Union's stricter regulatory environment untouched. Under the 2023 Digital Services Act, platforms like Facebook must address illegal content or risk fines of up to 6% of global revenue. The European Commission is closely monitoring Meta's compliance, and the company plans to phase in community notes in the U.S. over the coming months.

The shift to community notes mirrors X's 2023 approach and appears more like a political overture to the incoming Trump administration than a strategic policy change. The implications of Meta's decision will be closely watched, particularly in Africa, where the impact of misinformation on democratic processes and public discourse is a growing concern.