Oversight Board Protects Political Speech in Venezuelan Election Aftermath
6 septembre 2024
The Oversight Board today issued expedited decisions in two cases related to content about post-election violence in Venezuela.
The Board upheld Meta's decision in one case and overturned it in another, both involving content related to state-supported armed groups known as “colectivos,” who have been accused of violently suppressing protests following Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential election.
In the first case, the Board upheld Meta’s decision to leave an Instagram post online. The post contained the statement, “Go to hell! I hope they kill you all!” directed at the colectivos. The Board determined that the statement was an aspirational expression allowed under Meta’s violent actor exception.
The second case saw the Board overturn Meta’s decision to remove a Facebook post which criticized security forces for not defending people from violence perpetrated by the colectivos, calling on them to “kill those damn colectivos.” Meta had classified the statement as a threatening call to action. The Board, however, ruled that within the context of the video and the wider crisis in Venezuela, this statement should instead be interpreted as a non-credible, aspirational expression, also covered by the violent actor exception, conveying fear and frustration on one of the few remaining avenues for free expression in the country.
The Board emphasized that the security forces and colectivos are closely linked, making it highly unlikely that the former would act against the latter.
“After Meta referred these cases, the Board acted swiftly, delivering our decisions in half the time typically allotted for expedited cases. We are committed to ensuring that Meta’s platforms uphold free expression, particularly in response to evolving events and crises,” said Oversight Board Co-Chair Evelyn Aswad.
The Board found that neither post violated Meta’s content policies and said that allowing these posts aligns with the company’s commitment to free expression and human rights. The decisions highlight the importance of context in assessing content to ensure political speech is protected, particularly in conflict zones or areas with significant restrictions on free speech. In crisis situations, Meta should use its Crisis Policy Protocol to be more responsive to the realities of how people targeted by state-backed violence express themselves on its platforms and adjust its policy and enforcement guidance accordingly.
The Board also expressed concerns over Meta’s policy to reduce the distribution of political content, warning that it could limit the reach of users expressing dissent or raising awareness about the situation in Venezuela. The Board urged Meta to also use its Crisis Policy Protocol to ensure that political content during crises can have the same reach as other types of content.
