Facebook unveils a human rights policy
Facebook has released a global, company-wide human rights policy to affirm its commitment to respecting these rights in its business operations, product development, and policies.
Rather than introducing any new rules on the content, the new policy essentially legalizes and regulates existing company practices and provides more transparency.
Miranda Sissons, Facebook's Human Rights Director, said: This new policy sets out the human rights standards we strive to respect as defined in international law, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights UNGP.
She added: This new policy defines how we apply these standards to our applications, products, policies, programming and general approach to our business.
Meanwhile, Facebook releases an annual public report on how it addresses human rights concerns arising from its products, policies, or business practices.
The company also revealed a fund that supports those who stand up for human rights, providing indirect support to those who defend human rights under threat, starting in Asia later this year.
Saysons said: We are also building on our current work to protect activists' accounts, including efforts that include combating malicious actors, protecting against improper content removals, providing advanced security options, taking steps to thwart unauthorized access to detained or detained accounts, and partnership With organizations on awareness and training.
Facebook has received severe criticism over the years for its stances on human rights, and it did not bow to calls to ban the Myanmar army until after constant pressure.
It was accused of not doing enough to prevent the hate speech and disinformation that helped fuel mass violence against the Rohingya population in Myanmar.
The nonprofit group Access Now, which advocates for the digital rights of people around the world, welcomed the new policy but had concerns.
Isedua Oribhabor, a US policy analyst at Access Now, says Facebook's recent actions in Australia are just an example of why the tech giant would need such a policy.
She added: The existence of politics means that when Facebook behaves in ways that undermine its stated obligations, platform users, investors, regulators, courts and Facebook employees have a tangible document to indicate the company and hold it accountable.