As platform scales back moderation in line with conservative demands in the United States, it still has to maneuver through stiffer regulations in Europe and elsewhere.

Tech giant Meta's shock announcement to end its US fact-checking program triggered scathing criticism Tuesday from disinformation researchers who warned it risked opening the floodgates for proliferating false narratives.

“Fact-checkers have just been too politically biased, and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the U.S.,” Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said in a video message announcing the company's move away from fact-checking. David Zalubowski/AP