A member of the Meta Oversight Board recently stated that Meta prioritizes “international human rights norms” over the First Amendment when dealing with free speech issues. This is concerning, especially in light of recent FBI and CISA collaboration with social media companies to censor content labeled as “disinformation.”
According to Kenji Yoshino, a member of the Meta Oversight Board, Meta shifted its content policies away from the First Amendment as it became more global. While originally seeking to adhere to U.S. First Amendment jurisprudence, Meta now aligns its policies with international human rights norms. This comment was made during a livestream hosted by the National Constitution Center, where Yoshino and fellow board member Michael McConnell discussed ways in which Meta influences content during elections.
McConnell, however, disagreed with Yoshino’s perspective, emphasizing that private companies have the freedom to regulate content on their platforms. He supported Meta’s censorship practices, pointing out that the company has always prohibited certain content like obscenity. However, there have been instances where the U.S. government has influenced Meta’s content moderation decisions.
The House Judiciary Committee released a report detailing how social media platforms, including Meta, censored individuals critical of the Biden administration. Meta collaborated with the White House to censor conservative voices discussing Covid-19 vaccines.
Furthermore, Meta has been involved in election interference and censorship. The company works with the federal government to target “disinformation” and has significant influence in shaping political narratives. This includes censoring ads from former President Trump’s campaign and suppressing news stories that could impact election outcomes, such as the Hunter Biden laptop saga.
Despite facing pressure from various governments, including China and the European Union, Meta continues to play a role in shaping online discourse and content. The company’s alignment with international human rights norms raises questions about the future of free speech and the First Amendment in online spaces.
Logan Washburn, a student at Hillsdale College studying politics and journalism, has written extensively on these issues and serves as an associate editor for the school paper, The Collegian. He has contributed to publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller.
