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17/5/24, 13:36 Hotel in Ethiopia | Oversight Board leave up the content was incorrect. The company then removed the content from Facebook. Board authority and scope The Board has authority to review Meta's decision following an appeal from the user whose content was removed (Charter Article 2, Section 1; Bylaws Article 3, Section 1). Where Meta acknowledges it made an error and reverses its decision in a case under consideration for Board review, the Board may select that case for a summary decision (Bylaws Article 2, Section 2.1.3). The Board reviews the original decision to increase understanding of the content moderation process, to reduce errors and increase fairness for people who use Facebook and Instagram. Case significance This case highlights Meta's error in enforcing its policy against a call for violence in a country experiencing armed conflict and civil unrest. Such calls for violence pose a heightened risk of nearterm violence and can exacerbate the situation on the ground. That is why the Board recommended Meta “assess the feasibility of establishing a sustained internal mechanism that provides the expertise, capacity and coordination required to review and respond to content effectively for the duration of a conflict,” ( Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, recommendation no. 2). Meta is in the process of launching a crisis coordination team to provide dedicated operations oversight throughout imminent and emerging crises. The Board will continue to follow implementation of the new mechanism together with existing policies, to ensure Meta treats users more fairly in affected regions. The Board has also recommended that Meta commission an independent human rights, due diligence assessment on how Facebook and Instagram have been used to spread hate speech and unverified rumors that heighten the risk of violence in Ethiopia, and publish the report in full ( Alleged crimes in Raya Kobo, recommendation no. 3). Meta described this recommendation as work it already does but did not publish information to demonstrate implementation. Decision The Board overturns Meta’s original decision to leave up the content. The Board acknowledges Meta’s correction of its initial error once the Board brought the case to the company’s attention. Return to Case Decisions and Policy Advisory Opinions https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/FB-IULHG7JK/ 3/4

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Oversight Board Case of Hotel in Ethiopia

Case Law

Country

Ethiopia

Country Location

Latitude: 8.931360452392163

Longitude: 39.67382794618616

Country Location (linked Case Law): Ethiopia

Decision Date: Sep 13, 2023

Case Status: Closed

Keywords

Social Media

Judicial Body: Meta's Oversight Board

Court Name: Oversight Board

Case Number: 2023-026-FB-UA

Case Summary

The Oversight Board issued a summary decision overturning Meta’s original decision to leave up a Facebook post that called for the burning down of a hotel in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. Responding to a user’s appeal, the Board reasoned that such calls for violence cause a risk of “near-term violence” which can worsen the situation on the ground, especially in a country like Ethiopia that suffers from armed conflicts and civil unrest. When the Board notified Meta of this case, the company found that the post violated its Violence and Incitement policy and decided to remove the post. The Board recognized Meta’s correction of its initial error when the case was brought to their attention, and recommended Meta look into the possibility of establishing a mechanism that properly reviews and handles content in times of conflict, as well as conducting an assessment on how Facebook and Instagram are used to spread hate speech and unverified rumors in Ethiopia.

The Oversight Board is a separate entity from Meta and will provide its independent judgment on both individual cases and questions of policy. Both the Board and its administration are funded by an independent trust. The Board has the authority to decide whether Facebook and Instagram should allow or remove content. Decisions, except summary decisions, are binding , unless implementing them could violate the law. The Board can also choose to issue recommendations on the company’s content policies.

Case Significance: Mixed Outcome

In this decision, the Board decided that a Facebook post calling for violence in Ethiopia had to be removed from the platform. While this limits freedom of expression online, it takes into consideration that this content, in the context of civil unrest and armed conflict, entailed offline dangers that can be harmful to the rights and integrity of others. Thus, the decision restricts freedom of expression in line with international human rights standards.

This case did not set a binding or persuasive precedent either within or outside its jurisdiction. The significance of this case is undetermined at this point in time.

Source URL: Global Freedom of Expression

Collection

Columbia

Date Updated: Sep 22, 2024

Primary Documents

Summary Decision
English
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CYRILLA: Global Digital Rights Law

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Oversight Board Case of Hotel in Ethiopia

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