Knin cartoon, 2022-001-FB-UA.
South African Slurs, 2021-011-FB-UA.
Pro-Navalny protests in Russia, 2021-004-FB-UA.
Depiction of Zwarte Piet, 2021-002-FB-UA.
Armenians in Azerbaijan, 2020-003-FB-UA.
II. Meta’s content policies:
The Bullying and Harassment Community Standard aims to prevent individuals being
targeted on Meta’s platform through threats and different forms of malicious contact.
According to Meta’s policy rationale, such behavior “prevents people from feeling safe and
respected on Facebook.” The Community Standard is divided into tiers, with more protection
provided for private individuals and limited scope public figures than for public figures.
When the content was reviewed by Meta and the Board began its review, Tier 4 of the
Bullying and Harassment Community Standard prohibited targeting private individuals or
limited scope public figures with “content that praises, celebrates or mocks their death or
serious physical injury.” The Community Standard defines limited scope public figures as
“individuals whose primary fame is limited to their activism, journalism, or those who become
famous through involuntary means.” Meta made this definition public in response to the
Board’s recommendation in Pro-Navalny protests in Russia, 2021-004-FB-UA. Meta’s
internal guidance for content moderators defines “mocking” as “an attempt to make a joke
about, laugh at, or degrade someone or something.”
On June 29, Meta updated the Community Standard. Under Tier 1 of the current policy,
everyone is protected from “Celebration or mocking of [their] death or medical condition.”
The Board’s analysis was informed by Meta's commitment to "Voice," which the company
describes as “paramount,” and its values of “Safety” and “Dignity.”
III. Meta’s human rights responsibilities
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), endorsed by the UN
Human Rights Council in 2011, establish a voluntary framework for the human rights
responsibilities of private businesses. In 2021, Meta announced its Corporate Human Rights
Policy, where it reaffirmed its commitment to respecting human rights in accordance with the
UNGPs.