Meta Oversight Board Requests Details on New Hate Speech Policies

Meta’s Oversight Board Responds to New Hate Speech Policies

The independent Oversight Board for Meta has released its assessment of the social media company’s recently announced changes to its hate speech policies, which were unveiled in January.

The Board expressed concerns that Meta’s new policies were implemented with undue haste and deviated from established procedures. They have requested that Meta provide a more detailed explanation of its governing rules.

Further Recommendations from the Board

In addition to clarity on the rules themselves, the Board has requested Meta to evaluate the potential impact of these new policies on vulnerable user groups. The findings of this assessment should be made public, and the Board should receive updates on the matter every six months.

Discussions are also underway between the Board and Meta regarding the refinement of fact-checking protocols in regions beyond the United States.

Policy Changes Initiated Prior to Trump’s Presidency

These policy revisions stem from an overhaul initiated by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the weeks leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration. The aim was to foster “more speech” across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

As part of this initiative, Meta scaled back existing hate speech regulations that previously offered protection to immigrant communities and LGBTQIA+ individuals on its platforms.

Specific Recommendations Issued

The Board delivered 17 recommendations to Meta, encompassing several key areas. These include measuring the efficacy of the new Community Notes system, clarifying the company’s position on hateful ideologies, and enhancing the enforcement of harassment policy violations.

Furthermore, the Board urged Meta to reaffirm its 2021 commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by actively engaging with stakeholders affected by the policy changes. The Board believes this engagement should have occurred prior to the policy implementation.

Limitations and Potential Influence of the Oversight Board

While the Oversight Board’s ability to directly dictate Meta’s overarching policies is limited, Meta is obligated to adhere to the Board’s rulings on individual content cases, as stipulated by the company’s own bylaws.

Should Meta seek a policy advisory opinion referral – a process it has utilized previously – the Board could gain a more substantial avenue for influencing Meta’s content moderation strategies.

Recent Case Decisions and Criticisms

In a series of decisions concerning 11 cases spanning Meta’s platforms – including instances of anti-migrant rhetoric, hate speech directed at people with disabilities, and the silencing of LGBTQIA+ voices – the Oversight Board signaled its disapproval of several aspects of the new content policies announced by Zuckerberg earlier this year.

The Board clarified that these January policy adjustments did not influence the outcomes of these specific decisions.

Specific Case Rulings

In two U.S.-based cases involving videos featuring transgender women on Facebook and Instagram, the Board supported Meta’s decision to maintain the content, despite user complaints. However, the Board recommended the removal of the term “transgenderism” from Meta’s Hateful Conduct policy.

The Board also reversed Meta’s decision to allow three Facebook posts related to anti-immigration unrest in the U.K. during the summer of 2024 to remain online. The Board determined that Meta’s response to the anti-Muslim and anti-immigration content was insufficiently prompt, violating the company’s policies against violence and incitement.