The Global Coalition for Tech Justice, a movement of over 250 organizations and experts across 55 countries, calls on members of Meta’s Oversight Board to publicly resign in protest at decisions of global consequence taken by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in recent weeks. The Oversight Board was established to serve as an independent check on Meta’s power and uphold accountability, yet recent developments make it clear that the company has abandoned any pretense of oversight and acts with no regard as to the consequences. Furthermore, by welcoming Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of 7 January, members of the Oversight Board have brought themselves and the institution into disrepute.
Meta’s recent policy changes — dismantling its fact-checking program, weakening hate speech protections for women, immigrants and LGBTQ individuals, as well as openly aligning itself with the Trump administration to counter regulatory efforts in other jurisdictions in which Meta operates — signal a dangerous retreat from accountability and human rights compliance. These changes have a significant impact on marginalized groups, as they intentionally allow the dissemination of hate speech—especially on gender-related issues—while enforcing stricter rules for other communities. This contradicts at least two of the strategic priorities outlined by this Oversight Board: “gender” and the fight against “hate speech targeting marginalized groups”. Our statement in response to Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement details why we believe Meta’s decisions will embolden authoritarian regimes in their persecution of dissidents and minorities, foster the unfettered spread of disinformation and hate speech, and place vulnerable communities at even greater risk.
We recognize the work that the Oversight Board has done since its inception — many of the members of our Coalition have engaged with you and appreciated the thoughtfulness and integrity you have brought to critical content moderation decisions, recommendations, and policy advisory opinions. However, the landscape has changed dramatically. In the lead up to the 2024 global elections cycle, Meta did not make the necessary investments and improvements to mitigate the risks that its platforms posed to election integrity and human rights, whether changes in algorithm design, resourcing of content moderation and fact-checking, advertising transparency or introduction of breakglass measures. The historic neglect of platform safety in global majority regions was not addressed. Meta closed down Crowdtangle, replacing it with a lesser tool, and failed to share basic information with stakeholders, including civil society and election commissions, on its election plans in many global majority countries. Meta’s leadership has made an unmistakable shift toward weak trust and safety and zero global accountability for the consequences, representing its intent to wield its global platforms in ways that endanger human rights and democratic values.
We understand from press reports that neither Meta staff nor members of the Oversight Board were consulted or made aware in advance of the changes Mark Zuckerberg announced on 7 January. Needless to say, neither were the fact-checking community nor civil society organizations and stakeholders who deal with the consequences of unsafe digital platforms every day. At this critical juncture, the only principled response is for the Board to resign collectively in protest — sending an unequivocal message that Meta’s actions cannot be legitimized. If the Board continues to operate within a system that has abandoned any responsible governance, oversight and accountability, it will become a tool for whitewashing Meta’s most egregious actions rather than challenging them. Remaining in a position without the power to drive real and tangible change will only serve to legitimize a company that is actively dismantling protections for vulnerable communities.
The choice before you is stark: either lend credibility to a company that is willfully dismantling safeguards for democracy and human rights, or take a stand in defense of the very principles you were appointed to uphold. Each of you was chosen to represent a community and bring critical insights to address the global equity crisis — yet Meta’s latest decisions directly undermine that mission. By remaining on the board, you are further emboldening Zuckerberg to continue destroying peoples’ lives and human rights.
A mass resignation would be a historic act of conscience — one that makes clear Meta’s reckless disregard for human rights cannot be excused, ignored, or concealed behind the curtains of an oversight board that has no real power. By stepping down collectively, you would show solidarity with all those communities impacted by Meta’s unconscionable actions, increase public pressure on Meta and demonstrate that true accountability cannot exist within a system designed to suppress it. Given the high stakes, we call on you to take a stand within the next two weeks and publicly declare your decision. Every day of delay further legitimizes Meta’s reckless actions.