12/20/23, 4:12 PM Oversight Board | Independent judgement. Transparency. Legitimacy. When the Board accepted the case, Meta reviewed the content in the "escalations bank", found that it was non-violating and removed it. However, it upheld its decision to remove the post in this case, saying that the hashtags could be read as "glorifying violence and minimising the suffering of the victims". Meta found that this violates multiple policies, including the Violent and Graphic Content policy, which prohibits sadistic remarks. Key findings A majority of the Board finds that restoring this content to Instagram is consistent with Meta's Community Standards, values and human rights responsibilities. Nigeria is experiencing an ongoing series of terrorist attacks and the Nigerian government has suppressed coverage of some of them, though it does not appear to have done so in relation to the 5 June attack. The Board agrees that in such contexts freedom of expression is particularly important. When the hashtags are not considered, the Board is unanimous that a warning screen should be applied to the video. This would protect the privacy of the victims, some of whose faces are visible, while respecting freedom of expression. The Board distinguishes this video from the image in the "Russian poem" case, which was significantly less graphic, where the Board found that a warning screen was not required. It also distinguishes it from the footage in the "Sudan graphic video" case, which was significantly more graphic, where the Board agreed with Meta's decision to restore the content with a warning screen, applying a "newsworthiness allowance", which permits otherwise violating content. A majority of the Board finds that the balance still weighs in favour of restoring the content when the hashtags are considered, as they are raising awareness and are not sadistic. Hashtags are commonly used to promote a post within a community. This is encouraged by Meta's algorithms, so the company should be cautious about attributing ill-intent to their use. The majority notes that Meta did not find that these hashtags are used as coded mockery. Users commenting on the post appeared to understand that it was intended to raise awareness, and responses from the post's author were sympathetic to the victims. A minority of the Board finds that adding shooting related hashtags to the footage appears https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/IG-OZNR5J1Z/ 3/26