About 25 academics, journalists, others say they've formed the Real Facebook Oversight Board, to analyze and critique Facebook's content moderation decisions

NBC News 2020-09-26 Olivia Solon

Context & Ripple Effects

This is a schism in platform governance playing out in public. Facebook spent over a year building its own Oversight Board — from the 2019 draft proposal for an independent content review panel through bylaws published in January that left Facebook firmly in control to the announcement of its first 20 members in May. Critics have long called the body a company-chartered 'supreme court'.

Now about 25 academics, journalists, and other experts are setting up a rival, unofficial 'Real Facebook Oversight Board' to analyze and critique Facebook's moderation decisions from the outside — effectively a shadow auditor answering to no charter Facebook wrote.

First-order effects

Facebook's content moderation calls now face organized, credentialed external scrutiny in real time rather than only through its own board's slow case-by-case process.
Facebook's official Oversight Board is immediately confronted with a legitimacy challenge: its authority is contested before it has even issued rulings on the hardest cases.

Second-order effects

Coverage of every contentious moderation decision becomes a two-sided contest between Facebook's chartered board and its unofficial critic, forcing both to justify their independence and methods publicly.
Advertisers, policymakers, and civil society groups gain a ready-made counterpoint source on moderation controversies, raising the reputational cost of decisions Facebook previously explained on its own terms.

Third-order effects

If the pattern holds, platform governance bifurcates into company-chartered review bodies and independent watchdog panels, with public trust increasingly arbitrated by whoever wins the credibility contest outside the platform's control.

The trend: Content moderation is moving from a self-regulated corporate function toward contested multi-body governance, as external experts formalize standing institutions to audit platforms' own oversight mechanisms.

Discussion

@fboversight @fboversight on x
We've had 17 years of Zuckerberg's apologies. Now it's time to act. @FBoversight #detoxfacebook #realoversight Wednesdays - FACEBOOK LIVE https://the-citizens.org/... https://twitter.com/...
@carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x
Facebook is a weapon. A private company, controlled by one man, being used to undermine democracy. We urgently need to hold it to account. Before it's too late. Today we launch the Real Facebook Oversight Board @FBoversight to try & do just that. Join us https://www.nbcnews.com/.…
@evelyndouek Evelyn Douek on x
... The “Real Oversight Board” is quoting its own pitch-deck out of context as if it's a Facebook deck? Spreading false information on Day 1 is not a good start. https://www.axios.com/... https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x
Remember when Facebook threatened to sue @guardian & @ObserverUK before we published Cambridge Analytica story?? Well guess what they did this time??? 2 weeks before launch of Real Facebook Oversight Board, Facebook's policy team rang group's funders to try & kill the project htt…
@oneunderscore__ Ben Collins on x
The roster of this unauthorized Facebook Oversight Board that launched today is a lot more impressive than the actual Faceboook Oversight Board. It's diverse, forward-thinking and features people who have been actual victims of government censorship. https://www.nbcnews.com/... h…
@rmac18 Ryan Mac on x
It seems the main purpose of this mimic Oversight Board is to pressure and embarrass FB, and, in some ways, it's already working. Yesterday, FB said its real board would start operating before the US election. Today this was announced: https://www.nbcnews.com/...
@fboversight @fboversight on x
📢 JUST IN: A document obtained by @axios reveals Facebook-funded oversight board is “little more than a corporate whitewashing exercise.” That's why we're here! Read more about us this piece by @sarafischer. #DetoxFacebook https://www.axios.com/...
@robblackie_oo Rob Blackie on x
This is an impressive group of people to look at Facebook's behaviour. And I say that despite disagreeing with 90% of @carolecadwalla writing. https://twitter.com/...
@jamesrbuk James Ball on x
This is an absolutely awful decision / tweet for which the independent board should immediately delete, apologise for, and take action to restore trust. Rule one: don't create misinformation. https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
Man, @facebook is sure getting chippy over the new @FBoversight project. Someone's nervous.
@bgrueskin Bill Grueskin on x
The sluggish Facebook Oversight Board has already said it won't get in gear until around or after the election. So an alternative group has sprung up. And @karaswisher is hosting the 1st meeting. Via @sarafischer https://www.axios.com/...
@jgreenblattadl Jonathan Greenblatt on x
Proud to be on @FBOversight w/friends @CaroleCadwalla, @RashadRobinson, @DerrickNAACP, @Moonalice & others to ensure FB truly is accountable & takes the needed steps to reduce the #antisemitism, #racism, #extremism & hate that runs rampant on the platform. https://www.axios.com/.…
@sarafischer Sara Fischer on x
Details about Facebook critics taking on its Oversight Board ... Kara Swisher will moderate its first weekly meeting next week, which will air on Facebook Live https://www.axios.com/...
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
@andymstone @oneunderscore__ .@Facebook handpicked the people on that board, Andy. How can anyone believe that they'll have the independent oversight you're promising?
@yaeleisenstat Yael Eisenstat on x
Our goal: to hold #Facebook accountable for its effects on #democracy and society. Members include @carolecadwalla @shoshanazuboff @mariaressa @rashadrobinson @safiyanoble @reedgalen @ruha9 @MarietjeSchaake @Moonalice @DamianCollins @DerrickNAACP @IlvesToomas More info 👇🏼 https:/…
@lifewinning Ingrid Burrington on x
https://www.nbcnews.com/... excited to make a number of people I do sincerely respect really mad by saying if this group does not personally go or advocate for sabotage of Facebook data centers as part of holding Facebook accountable this is purely resume padding
@marietjeschaake Marietje Schaake on x
The Real Facebook Oversight Board, happy to join with @shoshanazuboff @carolecadwalla @mariaressa @ruha9 @IlvesToomas @safiyanoble @DamianCollins @Moonalice @YaelEisenstat @reedgalen see some info here: https://www.nbcnews.com/... and watch this space ↘️ https://twitter.com/...
@yaeleisenstat Yael Eisenstat on x
Joining this all-star group to push FB to take bolder steps to protect our election & stop the platform from spreading disinformation & hate. I hope the actual Oversight Board will someday have impact, but our election's in crisis right now; we can't wait. https://www.nbcnews.com…
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
Posit: this might not be a great time to use ‘stunts and viral videos’ to try to undermine part of Facebook's attempts at maintaining election integrity. https://www.axios.com/...
@profcarroll @profcarroll on x
It me https://twitter.com/...
@profgalloway Scott Galloway on x
FB's MO: delay & obfuscation https://twitter.com/...
@jstrauss J-Strizzle on x
But how can they get computers so fast?! https://twitter.com/...
@monikabauerlein Monika Bauerlein on x
So a high-level Facebook official allegedly asked a funder to pull back from a project to monitor Facebook because they are afraid OF THEIR OWN COLLEAGUES. This is a really grim picture of the world's most powerful media company. https://www.nbcnews.com/... https://twitter.com/..…
@karlitaliliana @karlitaliliana on x
This is such a good call @OmidyarNetwork, am happy to see this investment and the people involved. Cause really if you are doing an oversight board without @ruha9 and @safiyanoble, what are you even doing? https://twitter.com/...
@apar1984 Apar on x
An oversight board over Facebook's “Supreme Court”? https://www.nbcnews.com/...
@freepress Free Press on x
Facebook's hand-picked advisory board won't be able to make decisions until after content is taken down and won't be ready for the election. We deserve better. Welcome to the Real Facebook Oversight Board, @FBoversight. https://www.nbcnews.com/...
@carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x
Yep. Bang on. Facebook launched a crisis comms strategy when it found out about @FBOversight & Oversight Board rushed out its (non)-announcement on Weds to get ahead of this & started briefing reporters against it... https://twitter.com/...
@carolecadwalla Carole Cadwalladr on x
Like, wtf?!? That's FACEBOOK intervening on behalf of the Oversight Board that is supposed to be INDEPENDENT. Read @oliviasolon's full NBC story. I asked Facebook for comment & they told me they were not prepared to comment ‘either on or off the record’ https://www.nbcnews.com/..…
@marina_sirtis Marina Sirtis on x
Thank you for bringing #Facebook to account. I have been screaming from the rooftops that #MarcZuckerberg has no social conscience and actually loves the power he wields. A jumped up a little nerd who couldn't get a date In college is wreaking his revenge. https://twitter.com/...
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
This will, should, and likely is freaking Facebook out. Facebook already monitors their top independent critics globally. This new group puts them all together to keep the public informed and to press for Facebook decisions which serve the public interest and democracy.
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
This is happening, folks. @facebook needs oversight from people who don't pay deference to Facebook. They'll get it with @FBoversight. Super excited to be a part of this project that the amazing @carolecadwalla has put together. https://twitter.com/...
@chrismessina Chris Messina on x
Guess we now have an answer to the question: “who watches the watchmen?” Or perhaps updated for 2020: “who oversees the overseers?” Turns out @FBoversight will oversee @OversightBoard! Modern day social media checks and balances emerging in real time! https://twitter.com/...
@lfdodds Laurence Dodds on x
The high priests of Facebook's conscience now have an antipope. It's all getting a bit Avignon out here 🤷🏻‍♂ ️ https://twitter.com/...
@davegershgorn Dave Gershgorn on x
god this is bleak as hell https://twitter.com/...
@rasmus_kleis Rasmus Kleis Nielsen on x
The Citizens, U.K.-based advocacy group founded by @carolecadwalla, is convening a group to analyze and critique Facebook's content moderation decisions. Promising initiative, bringing together some brave+smart people. To advance debate, hope they'll https://www.nbcnews.com/... 1…
@caseynewton Casey Newton on x
Not since Ric Flair showed up in the WWF in 1991 claiming to be the “real world champion” have we faced such a crisis of legitimacy https://twitter.com/...
@charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x
Wow, Facebook *really* doesn't like the idea of these people (who include an early-stage investor in Facebook, and someone who worked there and tried to get it to take election interference seriously) Having Public Opinions About Facebook. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.…
@evan_greer Evan Greer on x
There doesn't appear to be a single trans person or Palestinian activist (groups regularly harmed by moderation decisions) on this board of “experts,” but there is a former CIA agent https://twitter.com/...
@justinhendrix Justin Hendrix on x
Wow. Can I come and take the notes or serve the biscuits @Moonalice @carolecadwalla @mariaressa @YaelEisenstat @IlvesToomas @DamianCollins? https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@oliviasolon Olivia Solon on x
NEW: Some of Facebook's most vocal critics are tired of waiting for its independent oversight board — so they're launching their own https://www.nbcnews.com/...
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Bam. While Facebook works to create an oversight board, industry experts formed their own A group of about 25 experts announced Friday that they have formed a group to analyze and critique Facebook's content moderation decisions. https://www.nbcnews.com/...

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