Facebook s oversight board: Watchdog or distraction?
BARBARA ORTUTAY and MATT O BRIEN, AP Technology Writers
May 6, 2021
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FILE - In this April 14, 2020 file photo, the thumbs up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook s oversight board, which on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 upheld the company’s ban of former President Donald Trump, also had some harsh words for its corporate sponsor: Facebook. But critics aren t convinced this decision is a triumph of accountability, and say its actions may actually distract from more fundamental issues that Facebook seems less interested in talking about.Jeff Chiu/AP
Facebook said it has publicly made clear that the oversight board is not a replacement for regulation.
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook s oversight board, which on Wednesday upheld the company s ban of former President Donald Trump, also had some harsh words for its corporate sponsor: Facebook. In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities, the board wrote in its decision.
But critics aren t convinced that the board s decision represents a triumph of accountability. Many, in fact, see its narrow focus on one-off content issues as a distraction from deeper problems such as Facebook s massive power, its shadowy algorithms that can amplify hate and misinformation and more serious and complicated questions about government regulation.
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Facebook s oversight board: Watchdog or distraction?
FILE - In this April 14, 2020 file photo, the thumbs up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook s oversight board, which on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 upheld the company’s ban of former President Donald Trump, also had some harsh words for its corporate sponsor: Facebook. But critics aren t convinced this decision is a triumph of accountability, and say its actions may actually distract from more fundamental issues that Facebook seems less interested in talking about. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Facebook s oversight board upheld a ban on Donald Trump using the platform
The board criticised Facebook for applying vague penalties like the Trump ban
They said Facebook was avoiding its responsibilities by sending final decisions to the board to resolve whether the ban should be upheld or whether it is right
Critics of Facebook say the board has too narrow a focus to tackle extremism
Rakesh Maheshwari, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
Key references
The Information Technology Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment), 2018 [download]
IT Rules 2011 [read]
Shreya Singhal Judgment: [read]
Summary of the IT Rules
Intermediaries And Social Media Platforms [read]
Digital News Publishing [read]
OTT Streaming Services [read]
Key developments
Unblocking of handles: IT Ministry notice to Twitter warns of consequences [Read]
CEO Will Cathcart says WhatsApp hopes to find solution to traceability without breaking encryption [read]
India’s FOSS community files plea in Kerala High Court against IT Rules, challenges traceability mandate [read]
Opinion/Analysis Pieces
The Case of the Online Intermediary by Chinmayi Arun [Read]