When Meta acknowledges that it made an error and reverses its decision on 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
Facebook and Instagram users.
Case significance
This case highlights the incorrect removal of content that did not contain any references to a
designated organisation or individual.
In order to reduce enforcement errors in places experiencing conflict or other sensitive
circumstances, the Board has recommended that Meta "enhance the capacity allocated to
HIPO [high-impact false positive override system] review across languages to ensure that
more content decisions that may be enforcement errors receive additional human review", on
which Meta has reported progress on implementation (Mention of the Taliban in news
reporting, recommendation no. 7). The Board has also recommended that Meta "evaluate
automated moderation processes for enforcement of the Dangerous Organisations and
Individuals policy" (Öcalan's Isolation, recommendation no. 2), which Meta has declined.
This case highlights over-enforcement of Meta's Dangerous Organisations and Individuals
policy. The Board's cases suggest that errors of this sort are all too frequent. The company
should make reducing such errors a high priority. Full adoption of these recommendations,
along with the published information to demonstrate successful implementation, could
reduce the number of incorrect removals under Meta's Dangerous Organisations and
Individuals policy.
Decision
The Board overturns Meta's original decision to remove the content. The Board
acknowledges Meta's correction of its initial error once the Board brought the case to Meta's
attention.