The Meta Oversight Board, a quasi-independent board that reviews Facebook owner Meta's policies, has criticized the company's approach to manipulated media, calling it “incoherent” and insufficient in addressing the surge of online disinformation targeting elections worldwide. The board's review of an altered video of President Joe Biden that spread on Facebook revealed gaps in Meta's policy, prompting the board to recommend expanding the policy to cover all forms of manipulated media, including fake audio recordings. The board also suggested that Meta clarify the harms it aims to prevent and label manipulated content instead of removing it entirely.

The board's feedback reflects the increased scrutiny faced by tech companies in handling election falsehoods, as voters in over 50 countries prepare to go to the polls. The rise of generative artificial intelligence deepfakes and lower-quality "cheap fakes" on social media poses a threat to misleading voters, prompting platforms to catch up and respond to false posts while protecting users' right to free speech. Oversight Board co-chair Michael McConnell criticized Meta's policy, stating that it currently makes little sense and urged the company to close the gaps in the policy while ensuring political speech is protected.

In response, Meta stated that it is reviewing the Oversight Board's guidance and will publicly respond to the recommendations within 60 days. The company's spokesperson, Corey Chambliss, clarified that although audio deepfakes are not explicitly mentioned in Meta's manipulated media policy, they are eligible to be fact-checked and will be labeled or down-ranked if deemed false or altered by fact-checkers. Chambliss also emphasized that Meta takes action against any content that violates Facebook's Community Standards.

While Facebook remains the most popular social media site for Americans to access news, other platforms such as Meta's Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, as well as X, YouTube, and TikTok, also have the potential to spread deceptive media and mislead voters. Meta established its oversight board in 2020 to act as a referee for content on its platforms. The board's current recommendations come after reviewing an altered clip of President Biden and his granddaughter, which was misleading but did not violate Meta's existing manipulated media policy. The board upheld Meta's decision to leave the altered clip on Facebook, as it did not violate the policy.

The board advised Meta to update its policy and label similar manipulated videos in the future, emphasizing that content should be labeled as manipulated rather than removed to protect users' freedom of expression. The board also acknowledged that some forms of manipulated media are created for humor, parody, or satire and should be protected. Instead of focusing on how the media was manipulated, Meta's policy should prioritize the harm caused by manipulated posts, particularly in disrupting the election process.

Meta welcomed the Oversight Board's ruling on the Biden post and stated that it will update the post after reviewing the board's recommendations. While Meta is required to adhere to the board's rulings on specific content decisions, it is not obligated to follow the board's broader recommendations. However, the board has influenced some changes in the company's approach over the years, such as providing more specific messages to users who violate policies. Jen Golbeck, a professor at the University of Maryland, expressed that Meta has the potential to lead in labeling manipulated content but emphasized the importance of enforcing these changes in the face of political pressure to combat misinformation.

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