#1. Meta Platforms (hereafter Meta) announced that it will implement 'Community Notes' as a fact-checking method for posts on its social media service (SNS). This feature allows users to discuss the authenticity of posts rather than the platform directly verifying the truth. It is a feature that Elon Musk, who has had a contentious relationship with Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg, introduced first on 'X' (formerly Twitter). Meta plans to dismantle its internal fact-checking team and implement this feature starting on the 18th (local time).
#2. Prior to this, Zuckerberg laid off 3,600 employees last month. Unlike previous layoffs that accompanied the restructuring of businesses or departments, he selectively laid off employees whose performance had declined. He also showed signs of retreating from DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies.
This is the changed demeanor of Zuckerberg since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January this year. As Zuckerberg's actions have changed from the past, there are indications that he is trying to follow Musk, a person with whom he has had a contentious relationship, to gain favor with President Trump. Zuckerberg is reportedly considering transferring Meta's corporate registration to Texas, where Musk's Tesla is located.
◇ “Joel Kaplan, immense influence over Zuckerberg”
As Zuckerberg's actions change, foreign media are focusing on his most trusted political adviser, Joel Kaplan.
According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 16th (local time), Kaplan is Mark Zuckerberg's 'political fixer.' He is the person leading lobbying efforts to alleviate political pressure from the Trump administration. He was promoted to Global Policy Head for Meta in January this year, succeeding former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
Kaplan is focusing on improving the relationship between him and Zuckerberg, including visiting the White House with Zuckerberg right after President Trump took office. Until then, Meta and President Trump have been in conflict. President Trump has repeatedly criticized Facebook for censoring content, and especially after the January 2021 Capitol riot by Trump supporters, Meta suspended Trump's account.
FT reported, citing current and former Meta employees, that Kaplan has 'greater influence over Zuckerberg than anyone else,' is 'skilled at capitulating to policymakers' demands,' and is 'helping Zuckerberg with extremely delicate politics.'
According to reports citing Meta insiders, Kaplan played a key role in ensuring that Meta's large language model (LLM) remained politically neutral ahead of the last U.S. election and in allowing the military to use Meta's artificial intelligence (AI) model for military purposes.
The introduction of Meta's 'Community Notes' is also likely influenced by him. According to The New York Times (NYT), Kaplan appeared on 'Fox and Friends' in the past to criticize Meta's fact-checking system as 'too biased' and said that Elon Musk's X, which has no rules and allows user participation, is a good model. He remarked, 'It is a great opportunity to strike a balance for freedom of expression.'
◇ Republican lobbyist mentioned for Trump’s White House entry
According to NYT, Kaplan graduated from Harvard Law School and then served as a law clerk for a Supreme Court justice. Afterward, he served as a Marine officer and worked as a policy adviser to former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003 and as the deputy assistant to the president for policy at the White House from 2006 to 2009. He has a close relationship with President Trump, as he was mentioned as a candidate for director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the first Trump administration.
He joined Meta (then Facebook) in 2011. At that time, Zuckerberg wasn't very interested in politics, and the company was in a period of rapid growth; Kaplan worked to expand the company's policy organization and engage in political lobbying. According to NYT, Kaplan is considered one of the individuals who spends the most on lobbying Congress and the White House.
During President Trump's first term, he actively promoted exchanges between Trump and Zuckerberg, calming Republican lawmakers who criticized Facebook's management for being biased toward the Democrats. After President Trump began his second term, he posted a photo of himself with Vice President J.D. Vance on his social media.