Title: Facebook Allows 'Household Object' Misogynistic Labels for Women After Policy Revision
Users are now allowed to make harmful remarks towards certain groups, such as referring to "women as household objects or property" or using derogatory terms for transgender or non-binary individuals, according to a revised portion of Meta's policy that was once restricted. The updated policy mentions that "allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation" will be tolerated, due to political and religious discussions surrounding transgenderism and homosexuality.
Initially, such remarks would have been removed under the policy. Meta's policy changes were first reported by Wired. Meta had hinted at modifying its content moderation policy on Tuesday, indicating that it would lift restrictions on specific topics, including immigration and gender identity. However, the new policy reveals just how quickly Meta is moving towards Mark Zuckerberg's vision of "free expression."
On Tuesday, Meta announced it would eliminate its network of independent fact-checkers in the U.S. and rely on user-generated "community notes" to provide context to posts instead. The company also stated that it would adjust its automated systems to focus solely on extreme violations such as child sexual exploitation and terrorism.
Zuckerberg acknowledged that the new approach would result in less removal of harmful content but would also reduce the number of innocent posts and accounts accidentally taken down. Meta did not respond to a request for comment related to the policy changes.
The changes made by Meta on Tuesday have been welcomed by Donald Trump and other Republicans, echoing their long-standing criticisms that Meta was censoring conservative voices. Experts in the online information ecosystem have raised concerns that the changes might lead to an increase in viral false claims and hate speech on Meta's platforms.
Meta has removed several prohibitions from its hateful conduct policy, including statements denying the existence of protected groups, dehumanizing speech, and reduced clarity on hate speech. The company has also reduced transparency regarding the harms suffered by users on its platforms, particularly teenagers, and plans to rely on user reports for enforcing rules against bullying, harassment, and self-harm.
Experts are concerned that the changes might result in significant harm, including escalating hate speech and disinformation in the U.S. and exacerbating ethnic conflicts abroad. GLAAD and other advocacy groups argue that these changes normalize anti-LGBTQ hatred, making Meta's platforms unsafe for users and advertisers alike. They see these changes as a complete break with best practices in content moderation. The overall impact of these changes on public safety remains uncertain.
In the realm of tech business, Meta's new policy shift allows for less removal of controversial content, such as statements concerning gender identity, due to Mark Zuckerberg's focus on "free expression." Following this move, tech companies might consider adopting similar business strategies in their content moderation policies.
