Expert says legal issues remain despite 'transformative' impact of 3rd-party fact checkers on meta ending.

The move by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to relax content restrictions and stop working with third-party fact-checkers could be a "transformative" moment for the platform, according to experts, but it may not protect the company from ongoing legal action.

Zuckerberg announced updates to Facebook and Instagram's content restrictions, stating that the previous restrictions, implemented after the 2016 elections, had gone too far and allowed for too much political bias from outside fact-checkers.

Elon Musk, the co-director of the planned Department of Government Efficiency, said that Meta will replace its current system with a "Community Notes"-style program, similar to the approach taken by social media platform X.

"Zuckerberg stated that the platform has reached a point where there are too many mistakes and too much censorship. He added that the recent elections represent a cultural tipping point towards prioritizing speech. As a result, the platform will focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying policies, and restoring free expression on its platforms."

President-elect Donald Trump commended the news, stating that Meta's presentation was exceptional. "They have made significant progress," he said.

The privacy scandal involving Cambridge Analytica has increased the likelihood of Meta facing a multibillion-dollar class action lawsuit, which may not ease its legal liability.

The Supreme Court upheld an appellate court ruling in November, allowing a class action lawsuit against Meta to proceed.

The House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government conducted an investigation into Meta's activity and communication with the federal government and the Biden administration last year, as part of a broader probe into alleged censorship.

In August, the House Oversight Committee scrutinized the platform in relation to allegations that it concealed information about the July 13 assassination attempt of Trump.

According to law professor and Planet Chronicle contributor Jonathan Turley, it is unlikely that Meta will resolve its legal issues promptly.

"The social media giant, Facebook, is facing a challenging period ahead, with the Republicans holding both houses of Congress and the White House, and ongoing litigation in a case in Texas."

The Supreme Court's conservative majority is unlikely to support Meta's views on First Amendment protections and free speech rights in any case.

The public scrutiny of Meta's actions will continue as a result of the House investigations and litigation, according to Turley, who expects further examination in the Missouri v. Biden case, which focuses on allegations of political censorship.

"Turley stated that the discovery is still unveiling new information, and Meta comprehended that in the near future, more information would be disclosed regarding its censorship program."

Turley said that this could be a transformative moment, still, he said.

""As one of Zuckerberg's most vocal critics, I welcome him to the fight over free speech, especially if he forms an alliance with Musk," Turley said."