Meta’s decision to stop fact-checking social media posts has sparked warnings that Australian voters will be flooded with more false information on its platforms during the election campaign as the Albanese government holds firm on its goal to introduce greater regulation of technology giants.

Meta chairman Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday promised to scrap independent verification of content across Facebook, Instagram and Threads as part of a push by the world’s biggest social media company to win over Donald Trump ahead of his return to the White House.