This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, Facebook announced the creation of an independent oversight board to review content decisions on Facebook and Instagram. The board will be led by human rights activist Maina Kiai, who has been appointed as a board member.
The oversight board is designed to be independent from Facebook, with its members funded by a $130 million trust fund that cannot be revoked by the company. This financial independence ensures that the board can make decisions without fear of retribution from Facebook.
‘We have been talking for a long time about creating some kind of independent governance structure for making big companies more accountable on some of the most important decisions they make,’ said Kiai.
The board will consist of 20 members, including Kiai, who will serve for a maximum of three 3-year terms. Members will be assigned to case panels at random, and their opinions will be anonymous. The board will review content decisions made by Facebook and Instagram, with a focus on respecting freedom of expression and human rights.
The board will also tackle complex debates about what types of content should be allowed on Facebook and Instagram. Cases that potentially impact many users, are of critical importance to public discourse, or raise questions about Facebook’s policies will be prioritized.
Decisions made by the board must be implemented by Facebook, as long as they do not violate the law. The board will issue a public annual report on its work, evaluating how it is fulfilling its purpose and whether Facebook is living up to its commitments.
Initially, users will be able to appeal to the board in cases where Facebook has removed their content. Over time, the board will also review appeals from users who want Facebook to remove content, including advertising.
