The Money Behind Misinformation: How Meta and Elon Musk's Choices Impact Democracy

Lately, Meta has been making some big changes. They're tweaking their content policies, and some people are worried. Writer Michael Harriot even said that Mark Zuckerberg's changes could "help kill people. " But why is this happening? It's not just about beliefs; it's about business. Fake news and hateful content can bring in a lot of money because people get angry and engaged. Far-right leaders often support "free speech" even when it's hateful, making it easier for platforms like Meta to save money on moderation. Fact-checking hasn't been working great either. People usually stick to their beliefs even when shown facts, which can make them trust conspiracies more. To keep their business going, Meta and Elon Musk's X are teaming up with far-right groups. They want to avoid rules from places like the European Union (EU). This isn't just about free speech; it's about protecting their business and ignoring democracy. In Brazil, X was suspended because Elon Musk didn't follow local laws. This shows that countries can step in when social media spreads hate. The EU and other places should think about doing the same. Social media platforms are trying to appeal to right-wing populists. This helps them get more users and avoid rules. But it's not just about the U. S. Countries like Brazil are already regulating platforms. The EU should do the same to stop harmful misinformation. We need new ways to handle misinformation. Algorithms can help by stopping bad content before it spreads. Governments and civil society should work together to make these algorithms fair. A few billionaires shouldn't control what we talk about online.