Meta Oversight Board Allows Manipulated Video of President Biden to Remain on Facebook, Recommends Policy Overhaul

The Meta Oversight Board, an independent body that oversees Meta’s content policies and makes binding decisions on whether content should be removed or left up, has ruled that a manipulated video of President Biden on Facebook can remain on the platform. The video, which was edited to make it appear as if the president was inappropriately touching his adult granddaughter’s chest, does not violate Meta’s policies because it was not altered with artificial intelligence and does not show Mr. Biden “saying words he did not say” or “doing something he did not do.”

The video, which was posted in May 2023, was taken from an original video of the president placing an “I voted” sticker on his granddaughter after voting in the midterm elections. However, the video under review by Meta’s Oversight Board was looped and edited into a seven-second clip that critics argued left a misleading impression.

Despite the video’s ability to remain on the site, the Oversight Board criticized Meta’s current policy regarding manipulated content as “incoherent, lacking in persuasive justification, and inappropriately focused on how content is created, rather than on which specific harms it aims to prevent.” The board recommended that Meta should begin labeling manipulated media that does not violate its policies and include manipulated audio and edited videos showing people “doing things they did not do” as violations of the manipulated media policy.

Meta’s Oversight Board Co-Chair Michael McConnell stated that the company needs to “calibrate the Manipulated Media policy to the real-world harms it seeks to prevent.” He also urged Meta to attach labels to provide context about the authenticity of posts, allowing for greater protection of free expression.

The board’s decision comes just a few days after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other tech company leaders testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the impact of social media on children. It also comes as AI and other editing tools make it easier than ever for users to alter or fabricate realistic-seeming video and audio clips.

In the lead-up to last month’s New Hampshire primary, a fake robocall impersonating President Biden encouraged Democrats not to vote, raising concerns about misinformation and voter suppression going into November’s general election. McConnell also warned that the Oversight Board is watching how Meta handles content relating to election integrity going into this year’s elections.

The board recommended that Meta develop a framework for evaluating false and misleading claims around how elections are handled in the U.S. and globally. McConnell emphasized that platforms should keep their foot on the gas beyond election day and into the post-election periods where ballots are still being counted, votes are being certified, and power is being transitioned.

The Oversight Board’s decision to allow the manipulated video of President Biden to remain on Facebook has sparked controversy and debate about the role of social media in shaping public discourse and the responsibility of tech companies to regulate content. The board’s recommendations for policy overhauls and labeling manipulated media are expected to be closely watched and potentially influential in shaping future content moderation policies.

In conclusion, the Meta Oversight Board’s decision to allow a manipulated video of President Biden to remain on Facebook, while controversial, has led to important discussions about the need for clearer and more effective content moderation policies. The board’s recommendations for policy overhauls and labeling manipulated media are expected to be closely watched and potentially influential in shaping future content moderation policies. As technology continues to evolve and make it easier for users to alter or fabricate content, it is crucial for tech companies to adapt and implement effective policies to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect free expression.

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