They criticize Facebook's first human rights report

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Recently social media giant Meta Platforms, Inc.—formerly Facebook—released its first annual human rights report ( 2022 ), following years of accusations that have pointed to the platform as a vehicle for hate speech. and inciting violence in places like India and Myanmar, according to Reuters .



Facebook's human rights report, which covers an audit conducted in 2020 and 2021, includes a summary of a controversial assessment of the impact it has had on highly sensitive issues in India, which the company commissioned from the law firm, Foley Hoag.



However, associations and activist groups, such as Cell Phone Number List Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have demanded that the analysis be fully exposed as they have accused Meta of not committing to the recommendations made by the rater.





What is Facebook's human rights report about?

Unsurprisingly, the controversial platform acknowledged what many of its detractors already think, commenting that Foley Hoag had noted the potential for "highlighted human rights risks" involved in Meta's services, including the "advocacy of hate that "incites hostility, discrimination or violence."



In this report, Meta describes the main human rights risks that could be present in its work, the action it is taking to mitigate the risk and some of the problems it has already encountered. Broadly speaking, she has accepted that she has dangers in terms of:



The right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Privacy, life, freedom and security of the person.

Equality and non-discrimination.

Best interest of children.

Influence on electoral participation.

Likewise, the investigation concluded that it faces “criticism and possible reputational risks related to the risks of hate or discriminatory expressions by end users.”



Facebook human rights report

Facebook and its lack of responsibility

With this in mind, it is not surprising that Facebook's human rights report is alarming in its social impact and that it intensified the concerns of human rights observers about Meta's lack of public commitment to implementing the measures, according to reports Board Agenda .





Regarding the decision to only integrate certain data, Human Rights Watch researcher Deborah Brown commented that this "does not bring us any closer" to understanding the company's role in the spread of hate speech in India or the responsibilities it bears. will take to address the problem.



For example, for years, human rights organizations have spoken up about anti-Muslim hate speech that is stoking tensions in India, Meta's largest market globally by number of users.



In this sense, the concerns of the Facebook human rights report are repeated in other countries, although it is a “welcome step”, there is much more to do in terms of transparency and accountability in the sector, added Gayatri Khandhadai, of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.