Oversight Board Selects a Case Regarding a Photo Mocking an Abused Woman

UPDATED

MAY 3, 2023

Today, the Oversight Board selected a case appealed by a Facebook user regarding a post containing a photo depicting a woman with a black eye. The post was accompanied by a caption that mocked the woman’s condition.

Meta initially left the content on the platform. Upon further review, we determined the content did in fact violate our policy on Bullying and Harassment, as laid out in the Facebook Community Standards, and was left up in error. We therefore removed the content.

Meta removes content that praises, celebrates, or mocks the medical condition of a private individual or of a limited scope public figure (the woman in the photo is identified as a limited scope public figure).

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.