There’s also the question of why Meta initially made the request for advice from the board in secret. A few days later, Meta’s policy chief, Nick Clegg, clarified in a leaked memo to employees that the policy wasn’t meant to allow for violent speech targeted at Russian civilians or “a head of state.” The Russian government then accused Meta of “extremist activity.” It’s unclear what exactly Meta asked the board for advice on, but there is an obvious guess: Reuters reported in early March that Facebook moderators were instructed to temporarily allow for calls of violence against Russian leaders and soldiers invading Ukraine. Based on the board’s bylaws, Meta wouldn’t have had to abide by its policy opinion, but it would have needed to respond publicly and explain its rationale for adopting the guidance or not.
But this shows how limited the Oversight Board is in being a true check on the social network’s power, especially in times of crisis.
It has, after all, been labeled an extremist organization by Russia and banned in the country. I’m sure that Meta’s safety concerns are genuine. Meta confirmed that the policy advisory request was withdrawn in a blog post, but declined to explain what the request entailed, when it was made, or elaborate on why it was pulled. “While the Board understands these concerns, we believe the request raises important issues and are disappointed by the company’s decision to withdraw it.” “Meta has informed the Oversight Board that the company would be withdrawing an earlier request for policy guidance concerning content moderation issues related to Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine,” said a statement signed by the board, which is funded by Meta but not staffed by its employees. Meta rescinded a request to have its own Oversight Board weigh in on content moderation policy related to the Russia-Ukraine war, citing “ongoing safety and security concerns.” It’s the first time Meta has withdrawn such a request, setting a precedent that could hurt its working relationship with the board.
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