Polish Post Targeting Trans People

UPDATED

SEP 13, 2023

2023-023-FB-UA

Today, the Oversight Board selected a case appealed by a Facebook user regarding a photo of a curtain hanging over a window which resembles the Trans Pride flag. The photo has a text overlay which includes the words “New technology. Curtains which hang themselves” and is accompanied by a caption with the words “spring cleaning” and a heart symbol.

Upon initial review, Meta left this content up. However, upon further review, we determined the content did in fact violate our policy on Hate Speech, as laid out in the Facebook Community Standards, and was left up in error. We therefore removed the content.

Meta prohibits content containing “direct attack[s] against people – rather than concepts or institutions – on the basis of what we call protected characteristics” such as sex or gender identity. Hate speech attacks include “content targeting a person or group of people on the basis of their aforementioned protected characteristics… with violent speech.” Violent speech includes “statements advocating or supporting death, disease, or harm.”

We will implement the board’s decision once it has finished deliberating, and we will update this post accordingly. Please see the Board’s website for the decision when they issue it.