As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, concerns mount regarding Meta’s ability to effectively moderate political content on its platforms.
In a recent incident, a Facebook user shared an altered movie poster featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, placing their images alongside characters from the film Dumb and Dumber. Accompanied by provocative emojis, the post quickly drew attention.
Content moderation shifts underway as companies reassess policies
Meta subsequently removed the post, citing a violation of its Bullying and Harassment Community Standards that prohibits “derogatory sexualized photoshop or drawings.” After an appeal, the decision was escalated to Meta’s Oversight Board, which later reversed the removal, acknowledging it was made in error.
This oversight board, composed of over 20 members from diverse fields, including academia and journalism, expressed deep concerns about Meta’s capability to manage political content effectively. They highlighted that the nature of the post was clearly satirical and should have been treated as such.
The board emphasized the importance of developing a robust framework for evaluating election-related content to enhance Meta’s moderation systems. This framework would help in assessing how resources are allocated for electoral challenges, ultimately improving accountability and response rates during critical political periods.
In a comparison to a previous case involving inflammatory remarks from a general during Brazil’s 2022 elections, the board noted that Meta’s inconsistent actions could either escalate or defuse volatile political situations. This inconsistency raises significant questions about the efficacy of Meta’s current moderation strategies.
The board’s analysis pointed to an overenforcement of Meta’s policies surrounding Bullying and Harassment when it comes to satire and political discourse. They warned that excessive removal of political content risks stifling essential criticism of governmental figures and candidates, even when presented sarcastically.
