Prof. Hansel Debates the Human Rights Implications of Social Media at Inter-American Dialogue Event

On October 7, 2021, Professor Mary Hansel spoke on a panel hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue entitled Debating the Facebook Oversight Board and Self-Regulation Mechanisms. The event brought together international human rights experts for a conversation on the impacts the Facebook Oversight Board and other regulatory efforts have had on freedom of expression in Latin America.

“Provided by Law”? Applying Article 19’s Legality Requirement to Facebook’s Content Moderation Standards*

In rendering decisions on content moderation actions, the Facebook Oversight Board must scrutinize whether restrictions on speech pass muster under international human rights law. This analysis involves an assessment of Facebook’s policies governing content moderation on the company’s platforms (its “Community Standards”). Indeed, any Board decision affirming the removal of content or an account suspension must necessarily include a finding that the relevant Community Standards comport with the right to freedom of expression as set forth by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Yet, as this paper explains, the substance and presentation of these Standards raise important questions about their adherence to the legality requirement under Article 19.

Decoding Intent in Two (Seemingly Contradictory) Facebook Oversight Board Decisions on Hate Speech*

Is speaker intent the pivotal element that explains the different outcomes of two hate speech cases decided by the Facebook Oversight Board? Despite the fact that both cases involved offensive speech aimed at marginalized groups, the Board came to different conclusions in each—finding that one user intended to insult and dehumanize while the other intended to raise awareness and engage in societal commentary. The instant working paper reflects on this apparent contradiction and teases out the role of each user’s intent in the Board’s assessment of hate speech under applicable international human rights standards.

Profs. Hansel and Kaye Lead Global Panel Discussions at RightsCon 2021

In connection with the Clinic’s Human Rights and Social Media Initiative (HRSMI), Professors Mary Hansel and David Kaye moderated panels on applying international human rights law to social media platforms at RightsCon 2021. RightsCon, which took place from June 7-11, 2021, is the leading global conference on human rights in digital spaces.

The Facebook Oversight Board’s Missed Opportunity to Promote Gender Inclusivity*

This working paper discusses the Board’s human rights treatment of Case No. 2020-004-IG-UA, generally referred to as the “Breast Cancer Symptoms and Nudity Case.” The Board’s decision in this case centered on freedom of expression, as provided by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In doing so, the decision missed opportunities to highlight and delve into other human rights standards, including those calling for Facebook to be more gender responsive and inclusive.

Lost in Translation: How the Facebook Oversight Board’s Limited Language Capabilities Undermine Human Rights*

The Facebook Oversight Board purports to be accessible to and capable of meaningfully evaluating cases referred by users across the globe. Yet the Board’s limited language capabilities, even compared to those of the Facebook platform, undermine equitable access to the Board and obstruct its ability to gauge the full context of content under review.

ONLINE EVENT: The Decisions of Facebook’s Oversight Board – Implications for the Global South, particularly in Latin America

The Inter-American Dialogue, the International Justice Clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and Columbia Global Freedom of Expression at Columbia University are pleased to present a panel discussion to understand the main aspects of Facebook’s Oversight Board, its decisions so far and their impact in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. Professors David Kaye and Mary Hansel serve as panelists.

The Facebook Oversight Board’s Decision on COVID Misinformation and Conspicuous Omission of the Right to Health*

The pandemic has created waves of information and misinformation on digital platforms that threaten individual and collective rights to health. Yet the Facebook Oversight Board’s decision confronting COVID-related health misinformation (the “French COVID Misinformation Case”) failed to address this crucial right. This omission is consistent with a broader trend of the Board prioritizing the right to freedom of expression at the expense of economic, cultural and social rights — which is inconsistent with authoritative human rights standards.