"Against the Regression in Meta’s Content Moderation and the Attacks on Democratic Regulation of the Digital Space", 8 January 2025

We, the undersigned, express our strongest condemnation of the recent statement by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announcing measures that represent a severe setback in the already problematic content moderation on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms. Under the pretext of “restoring freedom of expression,” the outlined proposals not only jeopardize vulnerable groups relying on these services but also undermine years of global efforts to promote a safer, more inclusive, and democratic digital space.

Zuckerberg proposes replacing fact-checkers with a “community notes” system (following the problematic model of X) and plans to drastically reduce moderation filters, prioritizing only “severe” violations (related to terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, and fraud). In other words, the company signals it will no longer moderate content against misinformation, hate speech, and other protective policies for the most vulnerable individuals. ...

Currently, Meta’s content moderation policies are already notably failing worldwide, allowing for gender-based violence, inadequate protection of children and adolescents, the growth of hate speech and misinformation groups, and other human rights violations. The proposed new measures worsen the situation by neglecting the real impacts of such online violent practices and paving the way for the proliferation of harmful content that destabilizes societies and undermines democratic processes.

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Meta’s discourse aligns with troubling rhetoric that challenges legitimate and necessary regulatory initiatives by governments and civil society worldwide, including in Latin America, by generalizing these actions as “censorship” or “attacks on U.S. companies.” In doing so, Meta openly attacks the sovereign and democratic efforts of nations to protect their populations from the harms caused by Big Tech. ...Meta could promote freedom of expression through measures of transparency and accountability; however, it chooses to “simplify” content moderation measures aligned with the rhetoric propagated by Trump’s newly elected administration.

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Zuckerberg’s announcement is emblematic of a structural problem: the concentration of power in the hands of corporations, which act as arbiters of the digital public space while ignoring the consequences of their decisions for billions of users. This regression cannot be seen as a mere adjustment of corporate policies but as a frontal attack by this digital platform monopoly on the achievements of a safer and more democratic internet.

We reaffirm that freedom of expression cannot be used as a shield to legitimize practices that promote violence, inequality, and misinformation. The recent statement by Meta’s CEO demonstrates how the self-regulation of large digital platforms has proven insufficient, subjecting the adoption, updating, or suspension of any policy to the unilateral will of corporations. It is up to states and civil society to strengthen public and social regulatory mechanisms that put people and human rights above profits.

We demand that the platforms led by Mark Zuckerberg review these measures and assume their responsibility in combating hate speech, misinformation, and online exploitation. We also call on governments and organizations worldwide to intensify efforts to create a global regulatory framework that protects digital rights and ensures that the digital space is a safe, fair, and democratic environment for all.

This is a critical moment. The future of the digital space depends on our collective ability to resist setbacks and advance toward digital governance centered on people and the planet.