The board intends to evaluate whether Meta's current policy, which offers protection only to refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers from the most egregious forms of hate speech, is sufficient.
Although the board is funded by Meta, it functions independently. After collecting public feedback, it has the authority to provide non-binding policy recommendations to the company.
The first case discussed involves a Facebook page belonging to a Polish far-right coalition party, which shared a meme in May that included a term for Black individuals deemed offensive and derogatory in Poland. This post garnered over 150,000 views, was shared more than 400 times, received over 250 comments, and was reported 15 times for hate speech, yet remained on the platform following a review by Meta.
The second case pertains to a German Facebook page that, in June, posted an image of a blonde woman making a stop gesture, accompanied by text suggesting that Germany no longer needs "gang rape specialists." Meta also decided to keep this image after a human review.
Following the Oversight Board's inquiry, Meta's policy experts reassessed both posts but upheld their initial decisions.
"These illustrative cases from Germany and Poland will assist us in determining whether Meta should enhance its efforts and whether it is adequately addressing this vital issue that resonates with many globally," stated board co-chair and former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.