Facebook s Oversight Board Unveils Its First Slate Of Cases
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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in October 2019.
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[/tags/facebook/ Facebook]'s content oversight board on Tuesday chose its first slate of cases for review, [ selecting six] from more than 20,000 brought to the independent body since it opened its doors in late October.
Three of the cases involve hate speech, which the social network restricts as part of its community guidelines. Five of the cases were brought by users, while one was brought by the company itself.
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The [ cases] include reposted tweets by [/news/twitter-removes-tweet-by-former-malaysian-leader-for-glorifying-violence/ a former Malaysian prime minister] that could be interpreted as suggesting violence against French people, a protest of China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims, and a post regarding breast cancer that included images the social network considered explicit. The case brought by Facebook involves the use of [/news/hydroxychloroquine-is-trending-again-its-still-no-cure-for-covid-19/ hydroxychloroquine], an unproven treatment for COVID-19.
"We are prioritizing cases that have the potential to affect lots of users around the world, are of critical importance to public discourse or raise important questions about Facebook's policies," the board said in a statement. Each case is open for public comment until Dec. 8.
The selection of the cases marks a milestone for the oversight board, which was two years in the making. The [ ] Facebook's decisions, and the social network will be bound by its decisions. The company built a new system, called a case management tool, that allows the board members, who are located around the world, to track appeals while preserving the security of personally identifiable user information. The 20-member board, made up of former judges, lawyers and journalists, has up to 90 days to reach a decision on most cases. Expedited cases will be completed within 30 days.
Read more: Here's how you can [/news/facebook-pulled-down-your-post-heres-how-to-challenge-that-decision/ submit an appeal] to Facebook's new oversight board.
Getting to launch has been a time-consuming process. Facebook CEO [/tags/mark-zuckerberg/ Mark Zuckerberg] first publicly suggested the concept in [ ]. Members were named [ ].
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Critics of Facebook, which was used by Russia in [ ] during the 2016 presidential election, say it isn't taking its responsibility seriously enough. Social media companies, including Facebook, have already come under scrutiny for interfering with the spread of some information, most recently [ ] about President-elect Joe Biden's son.
One group of vocal critics, which calls itself the [ Real Facebook Oversight Board], [ ] the social network's content moderation decisions and policies. The shadow oversight board conducts its sessions in public for anyone to watch. The platform: Facebook Live.
Here's what you need to know about Facebook's oversight board:
Sounds like this board will have a lot of responsibility. What can it do?
Let's get something straight: The oversight board isn't going to do the same job as [ ], who make decisions on whether individual posts to Facebook comply with the social network's rules. The board exists to support the "[ right to free expression]" of Facebook's 2.7 billion users.
The board functions a lot like a court, which isn't surprising given that [ ] came up with the idea. Users who believe content moderators have removed their posts improperly can [ appeal] to the board for a second opinion. If the board sides with the user, Facebook must restore the post. Facebook can also refer cases to the board.
The oversight board can also make suggestions for changes to Facebook's policies. Over time, those recommendations could affect what users are allowed to post, which could make content moderation easier.
Why does Facebook need an oversight board in the first place?
Facebook gets criticized by just about everybody for just about every decision it makes. Conservatives say the company -- and the rest of Silicon Valley -- is biased against their views. They point to bans of right-wing provocateurs Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos to support their case.
The social network doesn't get much love from progressives, either. They complain Facebook has become a toxic swamp of racist, sexist and misleading speec[/how-to/facebook-can-see-your-web-activity-heres-how-to-stop-it/ More about Facebook Facebook can see your web activity. Here's how to stop it][/how-to/facebook-can-see-your-web-activity-heres-how-to-stop-it/ Facebook can see your web activity. Here's how to stop it]
[/how-to/how-to-completely-delete-your-facebook-account-loose-ends-and-all/ How to completely delete your Facebook account, loose ends and all]
[/news/facebook-remains-top-target-for-disinformation-study-says/ Facebook remains top target for disinformation, study says]
[/news/can-facebook-be-broken-up-what-you-need-to-know/ Can Facebook be broken up? What you need to know]
The oversight board can help Facebook deal with those complaints while lending credibility to the social network's community standards, a code of conduct that prohibits hate speech, child nudity and a host of other offensive content. By letting an independent board guide decisions about this content, Facebook hopes it'll develop a more consistent application of its rules, which in the past have generated complaints for appearing arbitrary.
One example: Facebook's 2016 removal of [ ] that shows a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack. The company defended the removal, saying the [ Pulitzer Prize winning image] violated its rules on child nudity. It reversed its decision shortly afterward as global criticism mounted, prom[ ][ ], a lineup that includes former judges and current lawyers, as well as professors and journalists. It also includes a former prime minister and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The board could eventually be expanded to 40 people.
The social network chose a diverse group. The members have lived in nearly 30 countries and kynghidongduong.vn speak almost as many languages. About a quarter come from the US and Canada.
At the time of the announcement, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who served as Denmark's prime minister from 2011 to 2015, said one of the board's biggest advantages would be removing some of the content-moderation responsibility from Facebook itself. As it stands, she said, the decision-making is too centralized.
"Social media can spread speech that is hateful, deceitful and harmful," she said. "And until now, some of the most difficult decisions around content have been made by Facebook, and you could say ultimately by [ ]."
Serving on the board is a part-time job, with members paid through a multimillion-dollar trust. Board members will serve a three-year term. The board will have the power to select future members. It'll hear cases in panels of five members chosen at random.
Wait a minute. Facebook is paying the board? Is it really independent?
If you're skeptical, we hear you. Facebook doesn't have a great reputation for transparency.
That said, [ the charter establishing the board] provides details of the efforts Facebook is taking to ensure the board's independence. For example, tour thác bản giốc the board isn't a subsidiary of Facebook; it's a separate entity with its own headquarters and staff. It maintains its own [ website] (in 18 languages, if you count US and UK English separately) and its own [ Twitter account].
Still, when it comes to money, the board is indirectly funded by Facebook through the trust. Facebook is funding the trust to the tune of [ $130 million], which it estimates will cover years of expenses.
Facebook says it'll abide by the board's decisions even in cases when it disagrees with a judgment. (The social network says the only exceptions would be decisions that would force it to violate the law, an unlikely occurrence given the legal background of many board members.)
The board will also try to keep Facebook accountable, publishing an annual report that'll include a review of Facebook's actions as a result of its decisions.
"It'll be very embarrassing for Facebook," Thorning-Schmidt said, "if they don't live up to their end of this bargain."
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