The network, which brings together 47 fact-checkers from the region, warns that Community Notes are insufficient in contexts of high levels of disinformation and calls for them to complement -not replace- independent fact-checking.
Meta announced that it will begin a pilot phase of the Community Notes system in Latin America in Spanish and that it could gradually replace the independent fact-checking program, in which 14 organizations in the region currently participate.
Meta launched the independent fact-checking program in 2016 to combat misinformation on its social media platforms. As part of this initiative, organizations certified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) analyze posts that are potentially false or misleading and rate them based on available evidence. The platform then decides what actions to take regarding the content. According to its policies, these actions may include reducing the content’s visibility, adding context to the posts, and notifying those who shared it that new information is available. According to the company, the rating does not mean that the content is removed or that it becomes inaccessible.
In January 2025, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of this program in the United States, where it was replaced by the Community Notes system inspired by the social media platform X. Both systems rely on voluntary contributions from users who add context to posts. Notes are published only if they achieve consensus among users who typically differ in their assessments.
The available evidence highlights the limitations of this system, which were also pointed out by Meta’s own Advisory Board in an opinion it issued in March 2026 at the company’s request. In its warnings, Meta’s Advisory Board noted the delays that often occur in the publication of the notes, the small number of notes that are actually published, and their reliance on the reliability of the broader information ecosystem. It also reaffirmed the key role of independent fact-checkers, noting that “they are among the most frequently cited sources for supporting context, which highlights Community Notes’ reliance on the work of fact-checkers.” It added: “Reducing support for fact-checkers will likely impact Community Notes, as contributors will have fewer reliable sources to cite.”
Evidence on how the Community Notes system works comes primarily from the social network X, which provides data for independent analysis. Meta, on the other hand, has not presented evidence of the system’s effectiveness in the United States, although its announcement mentions general figures regarding the number of notes and their reach, without providing further details.
LatamChequea welcomes new tools designed to combat misinformation. Community Notes, which will be tested in Spanish-speaking countries across the region, could be a valuable addition if implemented as a complement to independent fact-checking, expanding the reach of fact-checkers’ work and leveraging collective knowledge. The concern lies in the possibility raised by the platform that independent fact-checking could be replaced by this system.
If support for fact-checking organizations is reduced, what reliable sources will those writing community notes have access to? Replacing independent fact-checking will weaken the very sources that sustain the system itself.
At a critical moment, when the problems caused by disinformation in the region have been exacerbated by the rise of content generated and manipulated using artificial intelligence, reducing the tools available to counter disinformation is particularly concerning.
LatamChequea is the network of Latin American fact-checkers comprising 47 organizations.
Leave a Reply