Meta Platforms Inc.’s independent Oversight Board has supported the company’s decision to keep a misleading video of US President Joe Biden on its platform. However, the board criticized Meta’s policies on content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), calling them “incoherent” and too narrow. The board has urged Meta to update its policies quickly ahead of the 2024 US general election.
The Oversight Board, established in 2020 to independently review significant content moderation decisions, expressed concerns about Meta’s manipulated media policy. It found the policy to be lacking in persuasive justification and overly focused on how content is created, rather than the specific harms it aims to prevent, such as disrupting electoral processes. The board recommended that Meta revise its policies to address these issues.
The criticism from the board came after Meta decided to keep a manipulated video of Biden on its platform. The video had been edited to make it appear as though Biden was inappropriately touching his adult granddaughter’s chest, with a caption referring to him as a “pedophile.” While the Oversight Board agreed that the video did not violate Meta’s manipulated media policies, it argued that these policies are too narrow and insufficient.
The board also suggested that Meta stop removing altered media that does not violate any other policy against harmful content. Instead, it recommended that the company label such content and leave it up on the platform. Meta has stated that it is reviewing the Oversight Board’s guidance and will respond publicly to their recommendations within 60 days.
This criticism from the Oversight Board highlights the challenges that social media platforms like Meta face in moderating content, particularly when it comes to AI-generated content like deepfakes. The rapid pace at which manipulated content can appear online with the help of new AI technology has raised concerns among the public and lawmakers. As the 2024 US general election approaches, Meta will need to address these concerns and update its policies to ensure the platform is not being used to spread misinformation or disrupt electoral processes.
