oversight – Opinions

May 6, Jared Schroeder, associate professor of Journalism specializing in Free Press/Free Speech at SMU Dallas, for an analysis of action taken by the Oversight Board regarding the status of former President Trump who is still banned from Facebook and other social media platforms. Published in The Hill: https://bit.ly/3eUrPGu

The Oversight Board upheld former President Donald Trump’ssuspension from Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday, and social media are better for it.

While much of the news cycle and often fact-averse pundits and lawmakers will focus on the board’s decision not to immediately reinstate Trump, the bigger development is the review board, which continues to mature into a body that has the power to do something no other entity can, tell a social media firm what to do.

In Trump’s case, the board upheld his suspension, but demanded Facebook reassess its decision and gave the company six months to revise and clarify its policies. In other words, the board demanded Facebook write clearer rules and follow them. No government entity could make that happen.

Continue reading “Oversight Board achieving what government cannot”

May 20, Jared Schroeder, associate professor of Journalism specializing in Free Press/Free Speech at SMU Dallas (along with co-author Dipayan Ghosh, Harvard Kennedy School), for a piece advocating for an autonomous oversight board to police technology platforms. Published in Protego Press: https://bit.ly/2zfMwvJ

Facebook announced the inaugural twenty members of its independent Oversight Board earlier this month. But while the board is filled with esteemed and respected names, we believe its underlying concept will require further consideration in the way forward.

The board’s scope, which focuses primarily on take-down decisions, is limited and may not effectively address the myriad misinformation and disinformation problems that plague Facebook’s spaces. The board is also reactive, rather than proactive. It seeks to close the gate after the chickens have fled the coop. Board decisions simply cannot come fast enough to effectively protect the flow of information. . .

Continue reading “Facebook’s Oversight Board needs greater authority”