A recently discovered case on Facebook has alarmed the Meta Oversight Board , which is now calling for stricter action against content that normalizes gender-based violence.

A worrying gap in meta-politics

It was a shocking image posted on Facebook in May 2021: a woman with visible signs of a physical attack, including bruises on her face and body. The caption, written in Arabic, suggested that her husband was responsible for the injuries and that she "got what she deserved." The post was blatantly violent and cynical, garnished with laughing and smiling emojis.

Reported three times, responded zero times

This post was reported three times in February 2023 for violating Meta's Violence and Incitement Community Standard.

Incredibly, however, these reports were simply closed, as unverified content reported within 48 hours is automatically taken down. It wasn't until the issue was reported directly to the Meta Oversight Board that the company responded and removed the post, which apparently violated its bullying and harassment policies.

A dangerous gap

However, the Meta Oversight Board notes that the current rules would not apply to posts where the victim is unidentifiable or depicts a fictional character. This means there is a legal gray area that opens the door to this type of content. The board is now calling on Meta to establish a policy that more effectively prohibits content that normalizes gender-based violence and to clarify that its Bullying and Harassment Community Standard clearly prohibits calls for or cheering for “serious physical harm.” .

It's time to act

The Oversight Board's call for Meta to revise its policy and close the gaps is more than justified. The fact that such a post could exist on the platform for almost two years without being seen by a human moderator is alarming. It suggests that the company's current moderation practices are not sufficient to effectively combat such content.

It is also worrying that if reports of such content are not verified within 48 hours, they will simply be closed. This can result in many reports going unnoticed and problematic content remaining on the platform.

Conclusion: More than just words

It is clear that Facebook and Meta need to take tougher measures to address gender-based violence on their platform. Establishing a stricter policy and closing the existing gaps in the current regulation is a step in the right direction. However, it is not enough to just change words and tighten rules. What really matters is enforcing these rules and monitoring the content shared on the platform.

The Meta Oversight Board's call is a wake-up call that cannot be ignored. It is time for Meta to take its responsibilities seriously and take effective measures to combat the normalization of gender-based violence on its platform. Only then can we ensure that social media does not serve as a platform for the glorification of violence, but rather as a place for exchange, networking and peaceful dialogue.

Source:

The Verge
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )