Meta Oversight Board wants stricter rules on gender-based violence

Gender-based violence has raised the alarm for the Meta Oversight Board, and they asked for stricter rules to combat it. The decision comes after a Facebook post depicting a victim of domestic violence remained on the platform for two years without getting removed by moderators.

Following the backlash about Meta content moderation policies, the company formed a so-called Oversight Board to monitor the policies. The company explains that the Oversight Board is “an independent body that people can appeal to if they disagree with decisions we made about content on Facebook or Instagram.” The team is now urging the platform to enact stricter rules against gender-based violence.

The Oversight Board argues there is a gap in Meta bullying and harassment policy. Which allows for gender-based violence content by “praising, justifying, celebrating, or mocking it.”

Meta Oversight Board asks the platform to be more proactive against promoting gender-based violence

Back in May 2021, a Facebook user posted an image of an Arab woman with signs of physical attack, including bruises on her face and body. The post caption claimed the woman “got what she deserved,” with some laughing and smiling emoji. Yet, the woman’s identity is unknown, but her face is visible in the image.

The Oversight Board added the post was reported three times in February 2023. Specifically over violating Meta’s violence and incitement community standard. However, the post still remained on the platform. Due to a policy that shuts down unreviewed reported posts after 48 hours. The post was then directly reported to the Oversight Board. It was later removed after Meta agreed it violated the bullying and harassment policy.

According to the Meta Oversight Board, the loopholes that allow such posts to spread across the platform are that the current rules won’t apply to posts where the victim isn’t identifiable or a fictional character is depicted. Finally, the board is asking Meta to amend the rules to stop spreading posts that normalize gender-based violence. Any celebration of “serious physical injury” should also be banned.