In a news release, Meta’s Oversight Board has urged the suspension of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for a period of six months due to his incitement of violence. This marks the second time in the past week that the Board has overturned a high-profile review by Meta, following a video posted by a Brazilian user encouraging followers to “besiege” the government. However, it is the first instance where the Oversight Board has called for the banning of a head of state, a decision that could have significant implications for future policy considerations.
Hun Sen, who has been leading Cambodia since 1985, is currently facing an upcoming election. Earlier this year, he posted a video in which he threatened his political opponents, stating that he would mobilize supporters of the Cambodia People’s Party to protest and physically harm them. Despite violating the company’s community standards regarding violence and incitement, Meta’s policy and subject matter experts initially recommended keeping the post active due to its newsworthiness.
Citing the severity of the violation, Hun Sen’s track record of human rights abuses, and his use of social media to amplify such threats, the Board has called for Meta to immediately suspend Hun Sen’s Facebook page and Instagram account for a duration of six months. Although the suspension is non-binding, Meta is required to remove the controversial video within 60 days.
The Board justified its decision by stating that the harm caused by allowing the content on the platform outweighs the public interest value of the post, particularly given the prime minister’s extensive reach on social media. It also criticized the original moderation decision, arguing that it contributed to the amplification of threats and resulting intimidation through Meta’s platforms.
The Board emphasized that such behavior should not be rewarded and called on Meta to give greater consideration to press freedom when assessing newsworthiness. This would prevent the allowance from being applied to government speech, especially in cases where the government has deliberately made its own content more newsworthy by suppressing the free press.
In addition to the suspension of Hun Sen, the Board recommended that Meta clarify that its moderation policies are not limited to isolated incidents of civil unrest or violence. It also advised the removal of the newsworthiness allowance policy for content inciting violence and urged prioritization of reviews involving heads of state and senior government officials. Lastly, the Board requested Meta to disclose the rationale behind its decisions regarding Hun Sen and all account-level actions taken against heads of state and senior government members.
Human Rights Watch director Phil Robertson stated that the Board’s review could establish a standard for moderating other authoritarian leaders in Asia, describing the request for Hun Sen’s suspension as “long overdue.” While Facebook famously banned former US President Donald Trump from the platform (later restoring his account), it has acquiesced to censorship demands in countries like Vietnam. Twitter owner Elon Musk recently defended censorship in Turkey ahead of an election, claiming that the company had “no actual choice” but to comply with such requests.
The Cambodian government has not yet responded to the Board’s decision, but it previously characterized the remarks as a mere affirmation of the nation’s legal process. Hun Sen, who boasts 14 million Facebook followers, announced today that he would cease active posting on Facebook and switch to using Telegram instead.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Facebook suspension
What is the Meta’s Oversight Board and what did it call for regarding Cambodia’s Prime Minister on Facebook?
The Meta’s Oversight Board is an independent body that reviews and makes decisions on content moderation issues on Facebook and Instagram. In this case, the Board called for a six-month suspension of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook and Instagram accounts due to his incitement of violence.
Why did the Oversight Board request the suspension of Hun Sen’s social media accounts?
The Board made the request based on the severity of Hun Sen’s violation, his history of human rights violations, and his strategic use of social media to amplify threats and intimidate political opponents. It deemed that allowing such content on the platform outweighed any public interest value it may have had.
Is the suspension of Hun Sen’s accounts binding?
No, the suspension is non-binding. However, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is obligated to remove the contested video within 60 days.
What other recommendations did the Oversight Board make?
In addition to the suspension, the Board advised Meta to clarify that its moderation policies apply beyond isolated incidents of civil unrest or violence. It also recommended removing the newsworthiness allowance for content inciting violence and prioritizing reviews involving heads of state and senior government officials. Furthermore, the Board urged Meta to disclose the reasoning behind its decisions concerning Hun Sen and similar actions against heads of state and senior government members.
How might this decision impact the moderation of other authoritarian leaders?
According to Human Rights Watch director Phil Robertson, this decision could set a precedent for moderating other authoritarian leaders in Asia. It may encourage more scrutiny of content involving leaders who have a history of human rights abuses and misuse of social media platforms.
Has the Cambodian government responded to the Oversight Board’s decision?
As of now, the Cambodian government has not responded to the Board’s decision. However, it previously characterized the remarks as a confirmation of the nation’s legal process.
What alternative platform did Hun Sen announce he would use?
Hun Sen, who has 14 million Facebook followers, announced that he would halt active posting on Facebook and switch to using Telegram instead.
More about Facebook suspension
- Meta’s Oversight Board
- Meta’s Community Standards
- Human Rights Watch
- Facebook Bans Donald Trump
- Censorship on Social Media
- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
9 comments
While it’s important to address incitement of violence, we should also be cautious not to restrict legitimate political expression. It’s a delicate balance.
It’s interesting to see how different countries respond to content moderation decisions. I’m curious to know how the Cambodian government will react to this request from the Oversight Board.
This decision could have far-reaching consequences for content moderation and freedom of speech. It’s interesting to see how platforms like Facebook navigate these challenges.
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I wonder if Meta will follow through with the suspension. They’ve been inconsistent in the past, so let’s see if they take a strong stance this time.
omg this meta oversight board is like sooo powerful, they want to suspend cambodias prime minister’s facebook?! thats like major!! hope they do it!!
Hun Sen’s suspension won’t solve the deeper issues of political repression in Cambodia. It’s a symbolic move, but real change requires more than social media actions.
Can anyone explain why Meta’s Oversight Board is calling for a suspension instead of removing the content altogether? I’m curious about the reasoning behind this approach.
This case highlights the power that social media platforms have in shaping public discourse and potentially influencing political outcomes. We need better regulations to ensure transparency and fairness in these decisions.