Meta relaxes rules on hate speech and abuse, raising concerns about real-world impact – Technology News

As America prepares for a second Trump administration, Meta has made some significant changes to its content moderation policy. The company has loosened its rules on hate speech and abuse, seemingly in line with practices seen on Elon Musk’s social media platform X — specifically on topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity and immigration status.

Easing restrictions on hate speech

GoalThe company’s decision to cut back on content moderation has raised concerns among supporters, who fear it could lead to harmful real-world consequences. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, announced that the company would “remove restrictions on topics like immigration and gender that don’t touch mainstream discourse,” suggesting that the recent election influenced the change.

A key change is that Meta now allows claims of mental illness or abnormality based on gender or sexual orientation, citing political and religious discourses about transgenderism and homosexuality. Essentially, this means that it is now legal to label gay people as mentally ill on platforms like Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. However, Meta still prohibits slurs and harmful stereotypes that have historically been associated with bullying, such as Blackface and Holocaust denial.

Year-Ender 2024: Transformation in Education; ideas and trends that should shape the year 2025

India vs Australia 4th Test: Ricky Ponting slams ICC for not punishing Virat Kohli ‘severely enough’ for row with Sam Constas

PF Account Holders Alert! 5 New EPFO ​​Rules to be implemented in 2025

Tough action against officers for issuing public notices on ‘fraudulent’ schemes, says Delhi chief Atishi

Removing the main rationale for the policy

Meta also amended its “policy rationale,” removing a sentence that previously explained why certain types of hate speech were prohibited. The since-released statement said hate speech “creates an environment of intimidation and alienation, and in some cases can promote violence offline.” Many see the change as a strategic move aimed at aligning with the new administration and reducing the costs associated with content moderation.

Expert concerns: real harm and global implications

Experts worry that these changes could cause significant damage. Ben Leiner, a professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, warned that the policy change would not only escalate hatred and misinformation in the US, but could also exacerbate ethnic conflicts abroad, as seen in places like Myanmar. In 2018, Meta admitted that its platform was used to incite violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, resulting in serious human rights violations.

Arturo Bejar, Meta’s former director of engineering, expressed concern that Meta is moving from proactively monitoring malicious content to support on user reports may increase risks. Instead of proactively monitoring and enforcing rules against bullying, harassment and self-harm, Meta plans to focus on more serious offenses such as terrorism and child sexual exploitation. Bejar noted that by the time user reports are addressed, much of the damage will have already been done, especially in the case of vulnerable groups such as teenagers.

In addition, Behar criticized Meta for not being transparent about the harm teenagers are experiencing on its platforms. He suggested that Meta was avoiding responsibility and working against legislation that could help protect vulnerable users. The overall impact of these changes on public safety, particularly among young people, remains uncertain, as Meta has been hesitant to address the implications of its revised policy.

(With AP inputs)