WEBDESK: After YouTube’s crackdown on copied content, Meta has now announced a major clean-up drive against Facebook users who post duplicate or copied material. The company says the move aims to stop the spread of content taken from other creators without permission.
In a new statement, Meta revealed that so far this year, it has removed 10 million accounts involved in copying popular creators. An additional 500,000 accounts have been penalised for spam-like behaviour or creating fake engagement.
The company confirmed that the reach of such accounts will now be significantly reduced. They will also be excluded from Facebook’s monetisation programmes. In repeated cases of violations, the option to share or distribute content may be completely removed.
Meta clarified that these new rules are not aimed at users who post creative reaction videos, comments, or join online trends. The focus is on accounts that directly repost others’ videos, images, or written content without permission or meaningful changes.
As part of the update, Facebook will also start reducing the visibility of duplicate videos in users’ feeds. Additionally, the company is testing a new feature that will provide a link to the original content creator’s post on copied uploads. This will help ensure credit and recognition go to the rightful owner.
Meta: AI Content and Cross Posting Under Watch
Even though Meta did not explicitly discuss AI-generated content, it cautioned creators against stitching random clips or marking videos with a watermark and reposting. The new instructions promote natural narrations and quality captions. The company seems to be targeting subtitles and voiceovers generated by AI that are not edited properly and posted.
Moreover, Meta has again made it clear that content taken from other platforms like TikTok or YouTube cannot be reposted on Facebook without proper modifications or creative input.
The announcement comes amid growing criticism of Meta’s automated moderation systems across its platforms, including Instagram. Many users complain that their accounts are being blocked unfairly due to system errors. There is also frustration over the lack of human support to resolve such issues.
In fact, a petition calling for a review of Meta’s content policies has already gathered around 30,000 signatures.
Though Meta has not responded directly to these concerns, it has introduced a new feature allowing creators to track the performance of their posts and see any penalties through their Professional Dashboard.
Meta Fight Against Fake Accounts and Misinformation
In its latest transparency report, it was disclosed that 3 per cent of Facebook’s total monthly users consist of fake accounts. Between January and March 2025, the company took action against 1 billion fake accounts.
To tackle misinformation, Meta has launched a new programme in the US called “Community Notes”, similar to X’s fact-checking feature. It allows users to check the accuracy of posts and decide whether they meet Meta’s community standards.
Meta stated that the new policies will be introduced gradually to give content creators enough time to adjust. It is now clear that lazy, copied, and low-effort content will no longer find success on Facebook.
This step is part of a wider industry push to promote high-quality, creative, and original material on digital platforms. The aim is to ensure creators receive the credit and benefits they deserve for their work.
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