The European Union (EU) Commission has issued a warning to Meta (Facebook’s parent company) CEO Mark Zuckerberg, stating that the company could face fines if it decides to eliminate its fact-checking programs in EU countries. On January 7, Zuckerberg posted a video announcing that Meta would give more weight to "community notes" instead of fact-checkers. This announcement has sparked criticism from several European countries.

Germany’s Minister of Technology, Volker Singh, stated that under the EU’s Digital Services Act, tech companies are required to maintain fact-checking programs, or they could face penalties. He expressed confidence in the EU Commission to take appropriate action in this regard.

The EU Commission will closely monitor Meta’s activities and take necessary measures if needed. Robert Habeck, the head of Germany’s Green Party and the country’s Minister for Planning and Climate Protection, said at an election event that "freedom does not mean anarchy," and this principle should apply to both democracy and the virtual realm.

Matthias Miers, General Secretary of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, called Meta’s plan "dangerous," emphasizing that removing fact-checkers amid the rise of fake news and misinformation is an attack on democracy. He stated, "If such a fact-checking program is canceled, we will need to assess how it conflicts with our laws."

Matthias Miers hopes that the EU Commission will continue to monitor fact-checking programs closely and ensure that platforms like Meta or X (formerly Twitter) do not shirk their responsibilities. He stressed the importance of digital platforms protecting society’s respect for information and democracy.

This firm stance from European nations underscores the need for digital platforms to take responsibility for preventing misinformation and safeguarding democratic values.