Meta’s Oversight Board Calls For Restructuring Of Content Moderation For Celebrities Like Donald Trump – Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

A report published by MetaPlatforms, Inc META The oversight body has urged the social media giant to make “significant” changes to its internal system for reviewing content from politicians, celebrities and business partners.

Meta’s bias toward high-profile users like former US President Donald Trump left malicious content online and served business interests at the expense of its human rights obligations, the Financial Times reported.

Meta’s Policy Chief and former British Deputy Prime Minister Sir Nick Clegg coordinated the board.

After whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed her presence, the board took action, raising concerns about Meta’s interest in elite figures.

Clegg also has until Jan. 7 to decide whether to let Trump back on the platform.

After a lengthy investigation, the board asked Meta to scrutinize its “cross-check” list more closely and make its review procedures more transparent.

The report is a landmark investigation into moderation issues at Meta, the independent body made up of 20 journalists, academics and politicians. Meta has already started to overhaul the system.

Reports estimate the list will have 5.8 million users by 2020. Meta has previously said it was 666,000 as of October 2021.

The system meant content posted by celebrities like Trump and Elizabeth Warren would remain on the platforms pending review by a human moderator.

It would take an average of five days for this human review to take place, with the content remaining on the platform during that time, and in one case up to seven months for the report to be found.

The board also accused Meta of providing “inadequate” responses to the probe, which sometimes took months to respond to.

The board referred to how Brazilian footballer Neymar posted inappropriate images on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, which attracted over 50 million viewers before they were removed.

The report follows previous public tensions between the board and Meta after the board made allegations in September 2021 of withholding information about the system.

Price promotion: META shares traded 5.84% lower at $115.28 on the latest check Tuesday.