UnidosUS: Meta’s Dangerous Policy Changes Put Profit over Democracy
WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to the company’s social media platforms policies regarding fact checking, hate speech and diversity initiatives. The following response can be attributed to Claudia Ruiz, UnidosUS Civil Rights Policy Advisor:
“Meta’s recently announced policy changes — eliminating third-party fact-checking, allowing discriminatory speech targeting immigrants and mocking a person’s gender or race, and dismantling diversity initiatives — represent a dangerous retreat from platform responsibility that prioritizes profit over user safety and democratic integrity. While Meta frames these changes under the guise of ‘free expression’ and ‘fairness,’ their timing — just days before the presidential transition — indicates a concerning capitulation to shifts in political power.
“Each of these changes is rife with risk. First, an information ecosystem that amplifies disinformation is neither free nor fair. When platforms enable hate speech and discrimination is allowed to poison public spaces, they facilitate the real-world violence that can follow. Moreover, when a company abandons its commitments to inclusive practices, it fails to advance fairness. Instead, it entrenches inequality and squanders diverse perspectives as a driver of innovation.
“This abandonment of mission cannot become the industry standard. Social media platforms derive their success from a diverse, engaged user base — the very communities these policy changes marginalize and harm. A healthy democracy requires robust public discourse built on facts, mutual respect, and full participation. When tech companies shirk their responsibility to maintain these fundamental principles, they betray their users’ trust and undermine the democratic foundations that enabled their success. We cannot and should not normalize policies that sacrifice our democratic health for short-term political expediencies.”