ONLINE EVENT: Debating the Facebook Oversight Board and Self-Regulation Mechanisms

This post is also available in: Spanish

Social media’s increasing influence on public discourse has presented a significant challenge to freedom of expression today. The need to moderate content on social media platforms in a manner that respects democratic norms and international standards for human rights has prompted a debate between political leaders, civil society, social media platforms and academia on the best ways to grapple with this issue. 

Out of this debate has arisen an innovative response: the Facebook Oversight Board (FOB), established in 2020, which acts as a self-regulation mechanism for the platform and also provides a channel for appeal in response to complex or controversial content moderation decisions carried out by Facebook.

How has the Facebook Oversight Board impacted the regulatory discussion in Latin America? What can other platforms learn from the FOB? How should Facebook and the FOB modify their procedures following the publication of the initial FOB cases?

The Dialogue is pleased to host this event, presenting a new report from the Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Content Moderation and Self-Regulation Mechanisms: The Facebook Oversight Board and its Implications for Latin America, authored by Edison Lanza and Matías Jackson. The report examines this novel tool and its impact on freedom of expression in Latin America. This analysis also covers the viewpoints and challenges observed by experts and civil society on the FOB, raising questions on the impact it and other non-state mechanisms could have on local judicial decisions.

Follow the event on Twitter at #LatAmOversightBoard and @The_Dialogue.

We invite participants to submit questions using the Q&A function in Zoom OR to email questions to meetings@thedialogue.org.

Please note that this conversation will be held in English and Spanish. Simultaneous translation in both languages is available for those who join the event online through the RSVP. 

WATCH THE EVENT HERE

Opening Remarks: 

Michael Shifter

President, Inter-American Dialogue (@MichaelShifter)

Presentation:

Edison Lanza

Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue; Former Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) (@EdisonLanza)

Panelists:

Catalina Botero

Co-Chair, Facebook Oversight Board (@cboteromarino)

Nicolás Comini

Public Policy Manager, Latin America, Facebook (@CominiNicolas)

Gustavo Gómez

Executive Director, OBSERVACOM 

Mary Hansel

Acting Director, International Justice Clinic, University of California, Irvine School of Law (@maryhhansel)

Moderator:

Santiago Canton

Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@SantiagoACanton)