Posted on 04/24/2025 4:48:15 PM PDT by Twotone
Meta’s Oversight Board expressed indignation at the social media giant for its January policy overhaul that axed fact-checking and eased restrictions on discussions about immigration and gender identity.
The independent oversight board railed against the company for implementing the changes “hastily” with supposedly no transparency about “what, if any, prior human rights due diligence” was performed.
Zuckerberg acknowledged that previous content moderation efforts had resulted in “too many mistakes and too much censorship.”
President Trump had frequently criticized Facebook during his first term, culminating in his platform suspension following the January 6, 2021, Capitol events — a ban eventually lifted as he launched his successful 2024 campaign.
Since President Trump’s election to a second term, the Meta CEO has been working to mend fences and roll back a decade of content policies that prohibited “hate speech” and supposed misinformation that conservatives have long criticized as biased.
As part of the January policy overhaul, Meta scrapped its U.S. fact-checking program, replacing third-party partnerships with a Community Notes tool similar to Elon Musk’s X, per Reuters.
In addition, Meta removed restrictions on “hate speech” towards LGBT individuals, and also announced it would stop proactively scanning platforms for “less severe policy violations,” instead focusing its automated systems only on serious content like terrorism and child exploitation.
Among its 17 recommendations, the board requested that Meta improve enforcement of its bullying policies while clarifying which hateful ideologies remain banned.
The board expressed concern about potential impacts in countries experiencing conflicts, urging Meta to “assess whether the changes could have uneven consequences globally.”
Despite the success of Community Notes on X, the Oversight Board still requested that Meta assess the new tool’s effectiveness and release reports every six months.
Meta said it would respond to the board’s 17 recommendations within 60 days.
The board did uphold Meta’s decisions to allow some controversial content, including posts discussing transgender people’s access to bathrooms, while requiring the removal of posts with racist slurs.
A Meta told Reuters the company welcomed decisions “that leave up or restore content in the interest of promoting free expression,” but did not address rulings calling for content removal.
Despite tensions, Meta has so far committed to funding the Oversight Board through 2027, allocating at least $35 million annually over the next three years, placed in an Irrevocable Trust designed to protect the board’s independence.
Oversight Board Co-Chair Paolo Carozza stated, “We have no reason to think that Meta is soured on the board or planning to make any large-scale structural changes in terms of its commitment with the board.”
leftist ideologues ALWAYS want control over free speech. when will the “heads still buried in the sand” republicans wake up to the war waged against them day and night? how thouroghly ignorant are the go along to get along Americans who are blinded by their mantra of NOT getting involved? we are on the verge of being overrun by those who will not allow freedoms to exist in society unless YOU bend the knee to them. but no enough care to keep it from happening. too little too late.
It seems like it’s long past time for Meta to fire the members oversight board who are censorious pricks.
Republicans wake up??
Republicans are NEVER going to wake up.
That ship sailed with the December 1954 censure of Senator McCarthy. Joe had a handle on the nature of the emerging Deep State ‘Blob’ and forces it was favoring while seeking opposing them on the surface.
That mid-century failing, effective punted on any sort of counter to Deep State expansion, and only now — fully SEVENTY YEARS later — has that been made an essential focus.
SEVENTY WASTED YEARS OF FEDGOV BULLSHIT!
THAT’S the GOP Legacy that’s been dumped on the front lawn of this generation.
Anybody who’s “awake” at this hour of American history isn’t, first and foremost, a Republican.
I left facebook after zuck admitted to censorship. Do not miss it one bit. They do not work for the betterment of life.
This is a step in tge right direction.
I deleted my account after the big steal in 2020 and after I was censored.
If Zuck has any dirty laundry, expect it to be “leaked” in the coming weeks. Leftists don’t like being told no.
I’ve been shaddow banned to different degrees for the last 14 years. I need to use the platform so I CANNOT SPEAK FREELY. It would please me greatly to learn “Zuckie” was now Federal Inmate No. xxxxxxx
The left is in favor of censorship if they get to do it.
Otherwise they are in favor of free speech.
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