The Platform Question: Power, Accountability and Global South The Platform Question: Power, Accountability and Global South CHAPTER 8 When Power Meets Platform: Zuckerberg’s Decision and the Implications for the Global Majority By Dr. Arpita Kanjilal Introduction: Platforms and the Architecture of Truth In January 2025, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced the termination of its United States third-party fact-checking programme and introduced a “Community Notes” model that relies on user-generated contextualisation instead of professional verification[1]. While currently limited to the United States, Meta stated its intent to extend this approach globally.[2] This decision marks a significant moment in the evolution of platform governance, as it shifts the locus of fact-checking from vetted experts to the general public. Fact-checking mechanisms are essential intermediaries when it comes to stopping large scale misinformation or disinformation. Their removal, even in limited jurisdictions, signals a recalibration of how truth itself is moderated and contested online. To cite a scenario in the context of rural India and DEF’s work with SoochnaPreneurs,[3] Salma*[4], a SoochnaPreneur in her village, watched an official-looking reel, which went viral in her community that said, “Earn Rs. 3000 – Last Day – Pay Rs. 299 now.” After a few hours, a False label in Hindi was added by Meta’s fact-checkers, which helped Salma identify the post as a deceptive scam post designed to extort money. As an immediate measure, she took the screenshot of the label on the reel, recorded a voice note and circulated it in her community’s WhatsApp groups. Although a few villagers had become victims of this scam, Meta’s labelling and Salma’s action prevented many more from losing money. It is important to note here that Salma has the digital and information literacy to identify and interpret labels, without which, the labelling alone would not be enough to protect end users, especially those from vulnerable, marginalised, and underserved communities. 114 When Power Meets Platform When Power Meets Platform Fact-checking mechanisms are essential intermediaries when it comes to stopping large scale misinformation or disinformation. Their removal, even in limited jurisdictions, signals a recalibration of how truth itself is moderated and contested online. 115