Overview

• Meta's Oversight Board condemned the January 7, 2025, policy changes for being implemented hastily without sufficient human rights due diligence.
• The Board issued 17 recommendations, including periodic human rights impact assessments, improved enforcement of harassment policies, and evaluation of the Community Notes system.
• Meta's policy updates removed third-party fact-checking, eased restrictions on hate speech, and allowed controversial content, such as claims about LGBTQ individuals' mental health, to remain on the platform.
• The Board overturned Meta's decisions on several posts, including anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim content during UK riots, citing risks of imminent harm, while upholding others under free expression principles.
• Meta has committed to funding the Oversight Board through 2027 and will formally respond to the recommendations within 60 days, signaling ongoing discussions on governance and accountability.