Meta’s Safety Advisory Council has claimed that many of Meta’s recent changes risk “prioritizing political ideologies over global safety imperatives” in an official letter.
The council added that: “As one of the world’s most influential companies, Meta’s policies set a powerful signal – not just for online behavior, but also for societal norms.”
Meta has announced some major changes to how its platforms function over the past few months, rolling back its use of third-party fact-checkers, as well as shuttering company-wide DEI policies, and reintroducing political content in the US. The Meta Safety Advisory Council is made up of eight independent internet safety organizations from around the world, including Brazil, India, and Australia, that consult with Meta on safety-related issues.
In particular, the Council said the shift to a community-oriented harm reduction model shifts an “unreasonable burden onto users” and the change “disproportionately impacts those most vulnerable to long-term, cumulative harm.”
The letter points to independent research highlighting the limitations of community-focused models, such as those used by Elon Musk’s X, claiming these leave “harmful misinformation unchecked” when it comes to “polarizing issues.” Certain groups, such as women, LGBTQIA+ communities, and immigrants, are particularly harshly affected by online abuse according to the letter, and Meta’s recent changes risk “eroding hard-won safeguards that ensure users feel safe and included in online social environments.”
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has denied allegations that the many controversial changes his company has implemented in the past months have been politically motivated, saying there was “no good time” to transition to a community-driven moderation model in an episode of The Joe Rogan Podcast, denying it was “a purely political thing.”
But the CEO did make several politically charged statements on the three-hour show, comparing censorship of the company’s platform by the previous Biden administration to 1984, a classic book about a man living in an authoritarian regime.
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The council recommended several measures to Meta, including strengthening relations with “youth-serving organizations, mental health services, helplines, ‘trusted flaggers,’” and other third parties that provide “critical independent infrastructure.”
The independent warnings come as it looks like Meta will continue to implement company-wide changes. Last week, Zuckerberg said in an internal memo he was set to lay off 5% of the company, or about 3,600 people, saying 2025 was “going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams.”
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About Will McCurdy
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