An Oversight Board Didn’t Work for Meta — and It Won’t Work for Twitter

Musk’s “Content Council” is No Substitute for Real, Independent Regulation and Oversight

28 October — Trying to skirt regulation and real oversight, Meta in 2020 established its “Oversight Board,” a content moderation council without independence from the company or a mandate to make real changes to disinformation and hate speech. Elon Musk wants to try it too.

The Real Facebook Oversight Board issued the following statement:

“Elon Musk’s PR stunt — a content council to advise on what content should be on twitter — has been tried before: the failing Facebook Oversight Board. Lacking any real mandate to shift policy or make change at Meta, the Oversight Board saw fewer than a third of its recommendations fully implemented by Meta, and has resorted to one-offs, regulating a piece of content here or there. It gives the appearance of oversight without power or impact.

An Oversight Board didn’t work to stop the hate and disinformation on Meta’s platforms, and it won’t work for Elon Musk. Working may not be the point though — for Elon Musk, like Mark Zuckerberg, the goal is to create the appearance of oversight without ceding any real power.

Twitter, like Meta needs external, independent oversight to stem hate and disinformation. Not another so-called expert council without power, beholden to the company owner.

Real Facebook Oversight Board members are available for interviews. Statements do not reflect the individual positions of all Real Facebook Oversight Board Members. Contact us at media@the-citizens.com.