Earlier in January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced some changes to the company’s LGBTQ policy across its platforms. Zuckerberg eliminated Meta’s fact checkers, which he described as “too politically biased”. The CEO’s announcement sparked internal protests as many Meta employees expressed their concerns over the company’s commitment to values regarding marginalized groups. In addition, the new policy changes received criticism from social media users, apart from critics around the world. Now, a coalition of civil society organizations has written an open letter to Meta’s Oversight Board, asking them to resign altogether over the recent fact-checking policy changes.
A mass resignation of Meta’s Oversight Group would be a historic act of conscience
Several civil society groups across the globe believe that if Meta’s Oversight Board resigns altogether, it would be a historic act of conscience. They believe that the recent developments to Meta’s policy make it clear that it has abandoned any pretense of oversight and acts with no regard for the consequences of it. That’s why the group is calling for Meta’s quasi-independent Oversight Board to resign at once to protest its recent pullback on content moderation.
The Washington Post released the first report regarding the letter from the civil society groups. More than 250 human and digital rights advocates make up the coalition. It also has many fact-checking organizations and other civil society groups from all over the world. They believe that a mass resignation would clarify that Meta cannot excuse, ignore, or conceal its reckless disregard for human rights behind the door of an Oversight Board that lacks real power.
“By stepping down collectively, you would show solidarity with all those communities impacted by Meta’s unconscionable actions, increase public pressure on Meta and demonstrate that true accountability cannot exist within a system designed to suppress it”, reads the letter. “The choice before you is stark: either lend credibility to a company that is willfully dismantling safeguards for democracy and human rights, or take a stand in defense of the very principles you were appointed to uphold”, it added further.
Meta’s Oversight Board said it remains committed to its work
In response to the letter from the coalition group of civil society, Meta’s Oversight Board said that it remains committed to its work. Meta’s Oversight Board’s five co-chairs said that they have been “closely assessing Meta’s policy changes” and plan to put forward “nuanced policy recommendations that Meta must respond to”.
The board also said its work “speaks for itself”, and Meta has implemented more than 70% of its recommendations over the years. Unfortunately, the company declined to comment on a request by The Washington Post regarding the open letter from the coalition of civil society groups and fact-checking organizations.
2025-02-15 15:07:19