Facebook announces first members of independent Oversight Board for content moderation

In a massive move, tech giant Facebook on Wednesday, May 6 anunced its first members of new 'oversight board' that will take final and binding decisions on wher specific content should be allowed or removed from social media platform. board will also moderate content on Instagram, which is a subsidiary of Facebook.

board was first proposed by Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg in 2018 after various concerns were raised about platform's content moderation policies. 

oversight board members speak at least 29 langus, come from 27 countries and include journalists, human-rights activists, former judges, a bel laureate, a Pulitzer Prize winner and a former Danish Prime Minister. 

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"All Board members are independent of Facebook and all or social media companies. In fact, many of us have been publicly critical of how company has handled content issues in past. Members contract directly with Oversight Board, are t Facebook employees and cant be removed by Facebook. Our financial independence is also guaranteed by establishment of a $130 million trust fund that is completely independent of Facebook, which will fund our operations and cant be revoked. All of this is designed to protect our independent judgment and enable us to make decisions free from influence or interference," Facebook said in a press release. 

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Key responsibility

re are currently 20 members on Board and it is expected to grow to around 40 members in future. board will begin hearing cases later this year and users will be able to appeal in cases where Facebook has removed ir content. social media giant in statement said that in following months it will also d opportunity to review appeals from users who want Facebook to remove content.

" Board can also review content referred to it by Facebook. This could include many significant s of decisions, including content on Facebook or Instagram, on vertising, or groups. Board will also be able to make policy recommendations to Facebook based on our case decisions," statement ded furr. 

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Selection process

Facebook first selected four co-chairs of Board with assistance of recruiting specialists and outside consultants. After selection, four co-chairs assumed responsibility for interviewing and approving rest of Board, in partnership with Facebook and executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, as per international media reports.

(Im Credit: AP)

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