Facebook’s Independent Content Oversight Board Releases Its First 6 Decisions

The first batch of six decisions from Facebook’s independent content oversight board are in, and the social network’s moderation decisions were overturned in four of the five rulings published Thursday, with a sixth case thrown out due to user actions. The social network’s decisions were overturned on: A photo of a deceased child and commentary on China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims was removed for violations of the social network’s hate speech policy and the user appealed.A post was removed for sharing an alleged quote from Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, for violations of Facebook’s policy on dangerous individuals and organizations.Facebook cited its policy on violence and incitement for its removal of a post in a group claiming that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin is a cure for Covid-19 and criticizing the French government’s response to the pandemic.An appeal was filed over the removal of photos from Instagram related to breast cancer symptoms and containing nudity, for violations of the platform’s policy on adult nudity and sexual activity. Facebook said it “previously reinstated this content as it did not violate our policies and was removed in error, so no further action will be taken on this content.” Facebook’s decision was upheld on: Another appeal of content removed for violating the hate speech policy involved historical photos purportedly showing churches in Baku and a caption indicating disdain for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. Finally, the board did not rule on this case because it concerned comments on a post, and the post was removed by the user: Facebook removed comments made by a public figure about violence by the global Muslim community toward French people, for violations of its hate speech policy, and the user appealed. Vice president of content policy Monika Bickert said in a Newsroom post Thursday, “We will implement these binding decisions in accordance with the bylaws, and we have already restored the content in three of the cases as mandated by the oversight board. We restored the breast cancer awareness post last year, as it did not violate our policies and was removed in error.” Bickert also explained how Facebook will react to this round of oversight board decisions, as well as future rulings. The social network will update each case’s respective Newsroom post within 30 days. In cases where “major operational and product changes” are suggested for Facebook’s content moderation, more than 30 days may be needed. As declared previously, the board’s decisions on content are binding, but its recommendations are advisory. If Facebook encounters content that is the same or similar to content ruled on by the oversight board, it will implement the related board decision, when feasible. Bickert wrote, “We believe that the board included some important suggestions that we will take to heart. Their recommendations will have a lasting impact on how we structure our policies. We look forward to continuing to receive the board’s decisions in the years to come. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg initially revealed plans to create the board in November 2018 and, following several delays, its charter was released in September 2019, followed by its bylaws in January 2020. The first 20 members of the board were named last May.