Meta’s Oversight Board Demands Transparency on New Hate Speech Policies: What You Need to Know

Meta’s Oversight Board, an independent entity designed to assist with content moderation strategies, recently responded to the social media giant’s new hate speech policies unveiled in January 2023. The Board’s critique sheds light on the urgent need for effective measures to combat hate speech on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Meta’s New Hate Speech Policies Under Scrutiny

The Oversight Board expressed concerns that Meta’s new policies were announced “hastily” and deviated from established procedures. They urged the company to provide comprehensive details regarding these rules and assess the impact on vulnerable user groups. Additionally, the Board requested that Meta publishes its findings and updates the Board every six months.

Collaboration on Fact-Checking Policies

Currently, the Board is in discussions with Meta to refine its fact-checking policies beyond the U.S. regions. This collaboration aims to enhance transparency and accountability in how Meta addresses misinformation and hate speech globally.

Background on Content Moderation Changes

Before President Donald Trump took office, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg initiated a significant overhaul of the company’s content moderation policies, aiming to promote “more speech” across its platforms. This shift led to the relaxation of hate speech regulations, particularly affecting protections for immigrants and LGBTQIA+ users.

Recommendations from the Oversight Board

In its response, the Oversight Board issued 17 recommendations to Meta. Key suggestions include:

• Assessing the effectiveness of the new community notes system.
• Clarifying the revised stance on hateful ideologies.
• Improving enforcement of harassment policy violations.
• Engaging with stakeholders affected by the new policies, upholding Meta’s 2021 commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The Board emphasized that these engagements should have occurred earlier in the policy development process.

Oversight Board’s Limitations and Future Opportunities

While the Oversight Board has limited authority over Meta’s broader policies, the company is required to adhere to the Board’s rulings concerning individual posts. If Meta grants the Board a policy advisory opinion referral, it could open avenues for further influence over content moderation practices.

Critique of Recent Decisions

In recent decisions concerning various cases, the Oversight Board criticized some of the new content policies introduced by Zuckerberg. They reviewed 11 cases related to anti-migrant speech, hate speech targeting individuals with disabilities, and the suppression of LGBTQIA+ voices. Notably, the January policy changes did not impact the outcomes of these cases.

In two instances involving videos of transgender women on Facebook and Instagram, the Board upheld Meta’s choice to keep the content live, despite user reports. However, they recommended removing the term “transgenderism” from the Hateful Conduct policy.

Furthermore, the Board overturned Meta’s decision to retain three Facebook posts related to anti-immigration riots in the U.K. during the summer of 2024. They found that Meta was slow to act against anti-Muslim and anti-immigration content, which violated the company’s violence and incitement policies.

For more information on Meta’s content moderation and hate speech policies, visit the Meta Newsroom.