Title: Meta Sets Its Sights on Silencing Dissent Against Dana White's Board Appointment in UFC Circuit
Meta appears to be squashing internal criticism of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to add MMA promoter Dana White to its board. According to 404 Media, the tech giant removed comments from its Workplace platform, an internal version of Facebook, about White's controversial past. Video footage caught White slapping his wife during New Year's Eve festivities in 2022, but no charges were filed.
Some Meta employees were taken aback by the appointment and the celebratory comments from colleagues. One criticized White's addition, stating, "Kind of disheartening to see people in the comments celebrating a man who is on video assaulting his wife and another who was recently convicted of rape." Another called the situation "on another planet."
Meta's roots were in allowing employees free-reign for debate and dissent. However, as the company grew, it scaled back these open discussions, fearing internal backlash and turmoil after high-profile controversies.
To explain the removal of controversial comments regarding White, an Internal Community Relationships team member cited Meta's "Community Engagement Expectations" or CEE. The member explained that disrespectful or antagonistic remarks towards colleagues or members of their board are not tolerated based on the company's internal guidelines.
Meta's communications team defended their approach to internal discussions, stating that different rules may apply to internal discussions compared to their platforms, like Facebook and Instagram.
Since re-election, Zuckerberg has been courting Trump, starting with a $1 million donation to his inauguration. Following the appointment of White, Zuckerberg announced changes in content moderation policies, causing a stir within and outside the company.
These changes included the elimination of Meta's fact-checking program in favor of a community notes system, leaving a small moderation team in place, re-allowing political content, and lifting restrictions on gender and immigration-related discussions. This decision sparked contentions about the potential spread of misinformation and abuse.
Trump, during a Mar-a-Lago press conference, was asked about Zuckerberg's content moderation policy changes and responded favorably, suggesting that Zuckerberg may be appeasing his critics. Furthermore, a significant antitrust case against Meta is headed to trial in April, which could give Trump a platform to scrutinize executives, including Zuckerberg.
Sources:1. 404 Media2. FIRE3. The Verge4. Children's Health Defense5. Forbes
Meta's internal strife and content moderation policy changes have spurred backlash from both internal and external critics. Employees feel that Meta is stifling free speech and freedom of expression, while external critics express concern that the changes may fuel the spread of misinformation and racism. The antitrust case against Meta adds another layer of uncertainty, as Trump could use the trial as an opportunity to hold executive accountable for their decisions.
In light of Meta's future emphasis on community notes instead of fact-checking, some employees are concerned about the potential spread of misinformation and abuse. The technology giant's commitment to strict community engagement expectations could signal a shift towards more tech-driven moderation in the future.
