Denied Opportunity to Weigh In On Ukraine, Facebook Oversight Board Slides Into Irrelevance
Experiment Has Outlived Its PR Value for Facebook As Facebook Fails the Test in Russia Conflict; “Very Susan Collins Energy” from “Disappointed” Oversight Board
12 May — The Real Facebook Oversight Board issued the following statement, attributable to a spokesperson -
Eighteen months after its founding as a PR vehicle for Facebook, The Verge reported that Meta has “rescinded a request to have its own Oversight Board weigh in on content moderation policy related to the Russia-Ukraine war. This is another embarrassment for the Oversight Board.
As we have argued, Facebook is failing the test in the Ukraine conflict: disinformation about Ukrainian refugees is flooding Poland, while Russia’s RT and Sputnik media platforms are thriving with non-English content, racking up engagement on Meta’s platforms. Meta’s practices need to change to protect lives in the conflict — but its Oversight Board won’t have any role.
Already lied to, dismissed and ignored by Facebook, Oversight Board members should pack it in. Without a media boost from the experiment in content moderation, Meta has clearly tired of its self-appointed regulators.
The Oversight Board said it was “disappointed” yet again. Very Susan Collins energy from the 40-member body, which has outlived its PR value to Meta and is spiraling into irrelevance.
There are urgent steps Meta can take in Ukraine, and to protect democracy worldwide -
- Fix the algorithm, up-ranking credible and trusted news sources in the weeks leading up to and following an election.
- Make an equal investment in non-English language content moderation, including Russian and 25 other languages.
- Let academic researchers back in, allowing outside, independent scholars to monitor Facebook’s content around the 2022 elections and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
We need real regulation and independent oversight to make it happen.
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.
