In a shocking move, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has significantly altered its hate speech policy, removing crucial protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, women, immigrants, and other marginalized communities. This change comes alongside the announcement that Meta will be ending its fact-checking program.
GLAAD, the world’s leading LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, has condemned Meta’s decision, calling it a “wholesale abandonment” of responsible content moderation. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD’s President and CEO, stated that these changes create an unsafe environment for users and advertisers alike, essentially giving a “green light” for targeted harassment and hate speech.
Specific Changes to the Hate Speech Policy
- Allowances for attacks on LGBTQ+ people, women, and immigrants: Meta now permits “insulting language” in discussions about political or religious topics, including transgender rights, immigration, and homosexuality.
- Allowances for economic and social exclusion: The updated policy allows content that argues for gender-based limitations on certain jobs and exclusion from spaces like restrooms, sports leagues, and schools.
- Allowances for claims that LGBTQ+ people are mentally ill: Meta now allows “allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation.”
- Removal of prohibitions against dehumanization: Meta no longer prohibits comparisons of protected groups to inanimate objects or criminals.
- Reduced clarity on hate speech and slurs: The updated policy removes clear definitions and prohibitions on various forms of hate speech and slurs.
These changes have raised serious concerns about the safety and inclusivity of Meta’s platforms. Critics argue that the removal of these protections will lead to an increase in online harassment, discrimination, and hate speech. GLAAD’s 2024 Social Media Safety Index report already gave Meta a failing grade for its handling of anti-LGBTQ+ hate and disinformation.
Meta’s decision has also been linked to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent statements about taking a more active role in shaping tech policy in the upcoming Trump administration. This has led to speculation about the company’s motives and whether these changes are politically motivated.
Meta’s decision to remove key hate speech protections is a major setback for online safety and inclusivity. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact users and whether Meta will take further steps to address the concerns raised by GLAAD and other advocacy groups.
