Meta Platforms Inc. META faced the heat from the company-appointed oversight board for policies that treat users unequally.
What Happened: The oversight board published its policy advisory opinion on Meta's 'cross-check' program, saying they found "several shortcomings."
The board stated that Meta's cross-check program is structured to satisfy business concerns. "By providing extra protection to certain users," the cross-check program allows violating content on Facebook and Instagram to remain, which would otherwise be removed quickly.
If a user on Meta's cross-check list posts something violating the company's rules, the tech giant applies the "full range of policies" to increase its chances of remaining on the platform. Ordinary users are less likely to get their content to reach Meta reviewers.
See Also: How To Buy Meta (Formerly Facebook) Stock
It is unclear how Meta's cross-check list is created, raising concerns regarding "unequal treatment" from a human rights perspective.
There's limited information about how cross-check works, impeding them from understanding the "full consequences of the program," the board said.
Why It's Important: The oversight board made 32 recommendations for Meta to overhaul its cross-check program by "radically" increasing transparency. This includes making celebrities and public figures protected under the cross-check program to mark their accounts publicly.
Facebook and Instagram aren't the only social media platforms in the spotlight for content moderation.
Twitter's new owner Elon Musk's regime has been under scrutiny for encouraging hate speech and easing content moderation policies.
Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg compared the company's content moderation approach to the one taken by Musk.
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