Harry and Meghan criticise Meta for ending fact checks

The statement comes days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accused of being ‘disaster tourists’ during the Los Angeles wildfires.

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, who have campaigned against misinformation, said that Meta’s decision “should deeply concern us all”.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have condemned Meta’s decision to stop fact-checking posts on its social media platforms, arguing that the move will harm free speech.

Mark Zuckerberg said last week that his company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, would no longer seek to forcefully moderate content.

In a move widely viewed as a response to the election of Donald Trump, the billionaire chief executive said fact-checkers had become too politically biased and “have destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the US”.

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, who have campaigned against misinformation, said that Meta’s decision “should deeply concern us all”.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry meet victims of the Los Angeles fires Picture: CBS

“Contrary to the company’s talking points, allowing more abuse and normalising hate speech serves to silence speech and expression, not foster it,” the Sussexes said yesterday (Monday).

“In an already confusing and, in many instances, intentionally disruptive information environment, Meta has shown their words and commitments have very little meaning or integrity.

“As they announce these changes, undoubtedly responding to political winds, they once again abandon public safety in favour of profit, chaos and control.”

Meta’s decision, according to the duke and duchess, will prioritise “those using the platforms to spread hate, lies and division”.

Meta has also scaled back its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes, as several large US have since Trump’s election victory, including McDonald’s and Walmart. Conservatives have claimed that they cause more harm than good. Meta’s decision threatened to “undermine protections for marginalised communities”, the duke and duchess said.

On Saturday, Harry and Meghan were criticised as “disaster tourists” by an American film-maker, Justine Bateman, after they were pictured comforting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.

The Times