The Oversight Board will review a case regarding Meta's handling of election content in Brazil, according to Engadget.
(Photo : by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
This picture taken on January 12, 2023 in Toulouse, southwestern France shows a smartphone and a computer screen displaying the logos of the social network Facebook and its parent company Meta.
The board plans to look into the social network's policies and surrounding election content in high-risk areas.
What brought this on?
In early January, a user posted a video calling to besiege Brazil's congress following the election of President Lula da Silva. The video featured some clips of a speech by a Brazilian general. The general called for people to go into the streets and government buildings.
The video was reported seven times by four different users but remained on Facebook following the review of five separate moderators. Eventually, Meta removed the post and issued a strike to the person who posted it.
The Board selected the case to see how the network moderates content related to the elections. It also wants to see how Meta applies its Crisis Policy Protocol in a designated temporary high-risk location.
The protocol was created following the Oversight board weighed in on the suspension of Donal Trim, which let Meta respond to situations where there is a risk of imminent harm online or offline.
Also read: Meta Fires Manager of Global Community Development Over Inappropriate Texts to a Minor
What happens now?
Currently, the Oversight Board requests public feedback on several issues about the case before it sends its recommendations to Meta. Once the recommendations are given, Meta will have 60 days to respond.
The public feedback will help the Oversight Board determine if the video's moderation was appropriate and if any changes need to be made to Meta's Crisis Policy Protocol to better respond to potential election-related crises.
The board will also review whether the strike issued to the person who posted the video was appropriate. Ultimately, the board will decide if the video should have been allowed to remain on the platform or if it should have been removed.
The Oversight Board's decision could have a major impact on how Meta handles election-related content in the future. If the Board finds that Meta has violated its Crisis Protocol Protocol, it could impose sanctions or even revoke Facebook's license to operate in certain jurisdictions.
This could have serious implications for the platform, as it could limit its ability to moderate content and protect its users. Additionally, the Board's decision could set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
The Oversight Board's decision could have far-reaching implications for the way that social media platforms handle election-related content in the future. I
f it is determined that Meta was wrong to remove or censor a video, then other platforms may be more hesitant to take similar actions without clear guidance from an independent body such as the Oversight Board.
This could lead to increased transparency and accountability when it comes to moderating political speech online.
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