Meta faces backlash for failing to remove Holocaust denial content

Social media giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been criticised for ‘gaps’ in removing content denying the Holocaust, according to an assessment commissioned by its own Oversight Board.

The independent body found that Instagram was wrong to keep a post questioning the number of Holocaust victims and the existence of crematoria at Auschwitz. Despite revising its Community Standards to ban Holocaust denial or distortion, Meta’s automated systems only reviewed four of six user reports. Two were deemed ‘non-violating’ by human reviewers.

Why does it matter?

The assessment revealed that Holocaust denial content remains on Meta’s platforms, possibly due to users finding ways to circumvent enforcement. The Oversight Board raised concerns about the effectiveness and accuracy of Meta’s moderation systems. They recommended that Meta take technical measures to improve the measurement of its content removal and publicly clarify the status of its automation policies. The decision against Meta adds to a series of cases involving antisemitism on social media, including condemnation of owner Elon Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic tweet.