Amusing, That Facebook: Born to Curate
October 22, 2020
Facebook loves it when users share news, photos, and opinions, unless they speak ill of the social media platform. Vice explains how Facebook limits free speech in: “Facebook Just Forced Its Most Powerful Critics Offline.”
Facebook does not like the Real Facebook Oversight Board, a group founded in September 2020 when the social media company failed to run its own oversight board in time for the US presidential election. Because Facebook did not like the Real Facebook Oversight Board, they used their legal clout to force the group offline. Facebook wrote the group’s ISP to remove its Web site and succeeded.
What is the Real Facebook Oversight Board?
“The group is made up of dozens of prominent academics, activists, lawyers, and journalists whose goal is to hold Facebook accountable in the run-up to the election next month. Facebook’s own Oversight Board, which was announced 13 months ago, will not meet for the first time until later this month, and won’t consider any issues related to the election.”
Facebook complained the Real Facebook Oversight Board was involved in phishing scams. Usually when a request to remove a Web site reaches an ISP, there is a despite resolution process that takes months and ultimately a court order must be obtained to terminate the site. Facebook had another Web site owned by the Real Facebook Oversight Board removed in the past.
Facebook denied responsibility stating the Real Facebook Oversight Board’s Web site was taken offline because it contained the word “facebook” and violated copyright. Email documentation from Facebook proves otherwise. The company is shaping reality in order to protect its public image and troll its critics. Is Facebook’s editorial process veering away from bright, white lines?
Whitney Grace, October 22, 2020
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