Meta seeks Oversight Board input on Community Notes before launch

Meta Asks the Oversight Board to Weigh In on Community Notes Ahead of Expansion

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently sought guidance from its Oversight Board regarding the expansion of its Community Notes feature, a crowd-sourced system for fact-checking that the company has been testing in the U.S. for nearly a year. The social media giant transitioned from traditional third-party fact-checkers, inspired by systems like X’s Community Notes, to a model that allows users to contribute notes on content. As Meta plans to roll this feature out to other countries, it aims to consider specific regional challenges.

In a request submitted to the Oversight Board, Meta has specifically asked for insights on what factors should be considered before launching in particular countries. This request highlights the company’s focus on ensuring that the Community Notes system takes into account local contexts, rather than simply asking the board to assess the merits of replacing traditional methods of fact-checking. Meta’s primary interest lies in understanding potential barriers related to freedom of expression, digital literacy levels, and other unique country-specific challenges.

Despite the potential for Community Notes, its uptake across Meta’s platforms has been lukewarm. Statistics reveal that only 6% of the over 15,000 contributed notes have been published, a notably low engagement rate compared to similar systems elsewhere. The Oversight Board is also inviting input from researchers on effective strategies to tackle misinformation in varying global contexts.

While Meta is not obligated to heed the board’s recommendations, it has historically aligned its policies with past suggestions, such as reversing COVID-19 misinformation rules. As this new chapter begins for Meta’s Community Notes, the involvement of the Oversight Board could shape its international rollout, aiming for a productive dialogue on how best to combat misinformation globally.

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