Meta's "Trusted Partner" and "XCheck" Programs — VIP Exemptions Reveal Dual-Standard Moderation
Leaked internal documents (published by the Wall Street Journal in 2021 as the "Facebook Files" and confirmed in subsequent congressional testimony) revealed Meta's "XCheck" (cross-check) program gave millions of high-profile accounts — celebrities, politicians, news publishers — near-blanket exemptions from standard content moderation rules. Content that would be removed or penalised for ordinary users was allowed to remain for "whitelisted" accounts, creating a two-tier speech system. Internal documents showed Facebook was aware the XCheck program allowed harmful content from verified users to circulate unchecked. Separately, Meta's "Trusted Partner" designation gave governments and approved NGOs priority reporting access — allowing them to flag content for expedited review and removal.