Facebook announces plan for Oversight Board

Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce / Flickr

Facebook has announced its plan to form an independent “oversight” board to moderate the social network

Facebook is no stranger to a scandal. Since its very inception, the social network has been mired in a string of controversies, each one outdoing the last in terms of scale and impact.

Most recently, they faced a backlash for hiring external contractors to listen to recordings of its users without their knowledge, but this was just one of many privacy oversights made by the firm this year.

It’s no surprise then that they wish to once and for all put the past to bed, to move forward in a shifting digital landscape populated by netizens becoming increasingly more aware of their right to digital privacy.

Last week, they announced a plan to form an “oversight” board, to moderate the social network from an independent standpoint.

The board, which will act similar to a court by ruling on contentious matters, will eventually consist of 40 members from across the world, though it initially plans to launch with no less than 11 members.


In a letter, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, said: “We are responsible for enforcing our policies every day and we make millions of content decisions every week. But ultimately I don’t believe private companies like ours should be making so many important decisions about speech on our own.”

According to the charter, a document which establishes the framework for the Oversight Board, the committee be paid for by a fund allocated by Facebook itself. Its members will have no conflict of interest with the social network, and will have five “expressly defined authorities”.

  • 1. Request that Facebook provide information reasonably required for board deliberations in a timely and transparent manner
  • 2. Interpret Facebook’s Community Standards and other relevant policies (collectively referred to as “content policies”) in light of Facebook’s articulated values
  • 3. Instruct Facebook to allow or remove content
  • 4. Instruct Facebook to uphold or reverse a designation that led to an enforcement outcome
  • 5. Issue prompt, written explanations of the board’s decisions

Internet users are becoming increasingly savvy about the techniques used by social networks. From the collecting of data to tracking and marketing, users are now demanding a voice. It is believed that the Oversight Board will hear petitions made by community members.

“The board will be an advocate for our community,” Zuckerberg said. “As an independent organization, we hope it gives people confidence that their views will be heard, and that Facebook doesn’t have the ultimate power over their expression.”

Luke Conrad

Technology & Marketing Enthusiast

Data Centre Demand Growth Continues to Surge

Brad Legge • 02nd October 2025

The proliferation of digital technologies has thrust data centres into the spotlight as linchpins of modern business infrastructure. From cloud computing to artificial intelligence (AI), these facilities support critical operations across industries. The growing interest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered a race to develop technology, driving demand for high-density data centres and significantly...

5 Signs Your ERP System is Holding You Back

Adam Palmer • 11th September 2025

Is your ERP helping you move forward — or slowing you down? For a modern business, an ERP system should be a powerful enabler. One that drives agility, delivers real-time insights, and helps drive strategic growth — not something teams feel the need to work around. Yet too often, legacy ERP systems quietly drag down...

Why Wind River is serious about moving from VMware

Paul Miller • 09th September 2025

For IT departments with limited manpower and budgets, improving the efficiency of operational management of distributed IT infrastructure is a pressing issue. Organizations burdened with licensing costs, such as the VMware issue, will want to start optimizing costs and IT resources immediately. We interviewed a vendor that is working on this trend using open technology....

TPIs are the Future of Energy Solutions

David Sheldrake SVP POWWR • 19th June 2025

The energy industry is undergoing a transformation, and Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), those brokers and consultants who help businesses procure energy, are at the centre of it. With growing complexity, increasing regulation, and evolving customer expectations, the role of TPIs is shifting from price-focused brokers to strategic energy advisors. While renewable energy adoption continues to reshape...

Quick Commerce and the Retail Media Revolution

Sue Azari • 11th June 2025

Quick commerce has transformed the way consumers shop, redefining convenience with near-instant delivery of groceries, meals, and household essentials. However, beyond its impact on logistics and e-commerce, quick commerce is now emerging as a major force in digital advertising. As consumer behaviours shift toward on-demand purchases, these platforms are leveraging their vast first-party data and...