Defending free expression as a human right. Lead on Cases & Policy @OversightBoard. (Formerly @Article19UN) 🇬🇧🇺🇳🇪🇺🏳️🌈. Usual disclaimers, etc.
Joined October 2011
- Tweets 5,840
- Following 4,556
- Followers 1,850
- Likes 3,212
257 Photos and videos
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
30 Oct 2025
🚨 For over two years, we have been reporting @Meta's Facebook violations against freedom of expression in Somaliland and Somalia.
We held a series of meetings, yet Meta never acknowledged their violations.
We eventually took the matter to the Oversight Board, who thankfully accepted our case.
After months of review and investigation, the Oversight Board has now overturned Facebook’s actions in four cases related to freedom of expression in Somaliland.
The verdict:
- The Board has overturned Meta’s decision to take down an independent journalist’s Facebook Page and four pieces of content covering current affairs in Somaliland, noting that there was no justification for their removal. Taking down the Page and content was inconsistent with Meta’s human rights responsibilities.
- Meta’s systems failed to safeguard independent journalism and public interest reporting in Somaliland.
- The company’s failure to include the journalist’s Page in its cross-check system highlights a broader systemic problem.
- The Board expressed particular concern that Meta’s systems to prevent over-enforcement did not prioritize public interest journalists working in the Somali language—especially concerning after Meta’s January announcement of a new approach to moderation promising “more speech and fewer mistakes.”
- Meta’s Journalist Registration Program, which offers enhanced security protections, does not cover Somalia, including Somaliland—this exclusion could have prevented the problem in this case.
- To better protect journalists in regions where media freedom is under threat, the Board recommends that Meta develop new criteria and systems to proactively enroll journalists’ Pages and accounts in its cross-check system to prevent enforcement errors.
1
2
3
1,405
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
2 Dec 2024
Do you speak Tamil and research/have thoughts on social media and content moderation? Continuing our work on non-English content moderation, we're looking at users' experiences online and Tamil is moderated online. Get in touch: abhatia@cdt.org cdt.org/insights/investigati…
21
30
4,266
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
22 Oct 2024
The Board is seeking public comments on two cases regarding content sharing critical views of immigration in Europe. Submit your comment by 11:59 PM (PST) on Thursday 31 October. Learn more at: oversightboard.com/pc/critic…
7
3
3
894
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
16 Oct 2024
Meta’s Oversight Board says viral video left on Facebook threatened LGBTQ people in Nigeria apnews.com/article/nigeria-m…
13
6
21
56,699
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
8 Oct 2024
Statements from Oversight Board Trust and Oversight Board Members on Appeals Centre Europe
3
2
4
1,778
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
3 Oct 2024
The Board has selected new cases with content showing the assassination of Mexican mayoral candidate José Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos. These cases were selected to look at how content showing political violence can impact elections.
5
4
2
3,990
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
7 Sep 2024
My post announcing that the #Meta Oversight Board has said the Facebook parent should not automatically remove a certain contentious the phrase which displays solidarity with Palestinians.
I merely reported the news by quoting from a news story.
If you are curious to see the post please see the post on X
x.com/faisalkutty/status/183…
6 Sep 2024
#Goodnews
Meta Platforms' Oversight Board has said the Facebook parent should not automatically remove the phrase "From the river to the sea", which displays solidarity with Palestinians.
The board on Wednesday, which operates independently but is funded by the US social media firm, said the phrase has several meanings, and cannot in itself be deemed to be harmful, violent or discriminatory.
The phrase refers to the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, between which lie Israel and the Palestinian territories. It is often chanted at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
While some accuse the phrase of being anti-Semitic, other groups dispute that interpretation.
"Context is crucial," said Oversight Board co-chair Pamela San Martin. "Simply removing political speech is not a solution. There needs to be room for debate, especially during times of crisis and conflict."
The Oversight Board said it came to the conclusion after it had reviewed three cases involving content posted on Facebook by different users containing the phrase.
"We welcome the board's review of our guidance on this matter," Meta said in a statement.
"While all of our policies are developed with safety in mind, we know they come with global challenges and we regularly seek input from experts outside Meta, including the Oversight Board."
Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University that promotes free speech, called the decision by the board "thoughtful (and in my opinion, correct)."
trtworld.com/middle-east/met…
5
6
16
1,032
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
6 Sep 2024
Meta’s @OversightBoard upholding the decision to allow the phrase “from the river to the sea” highlights a sharp contrast with Elon Musk’s ban on @X.
5 Sep 2024
The Meta @OversightBoard's decision on moderation of the pro-Palestinian phrase “from the river to the sea” further undermines @elonmusk's self-styled image as a “free speech absolutist," argues @JMchangama at @unherd. unherd.com/newsroom/meta-out…
4
8
1,805
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
5 Sep 2024
The Meta @OversightBoard's decision on moderation of the pro-Palestinian phrase “from the river to the sea” further undermines @elonmusk's self-styled image as a “free speech absolutist," argues @JMchangama at @unherd. unherd.com/newsroom/meta-out…
8
5
5,213
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
5 Sep 2024
Today, the Oversight Board has issued an expedited decision on two cases involving posts about the protests following Venezuela's July 2024 presidential election, both mentioning state-backed armed groups, known as "colectivos."
6
5
9
5,107
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
4 Sep 2024
This is a thoughtful (and, in my opinion, correct) decision from Meta's Oversight Board about social media posts that use the phrase "from the river to the sea."
oversightboard.com/decision/…
1
1
6
831
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
28 Aug 2024
Fancy helping me represent the UK's greatest constituency?
I'm looking for a new Parliamentary Assistant.
Job details here: w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx…
3
19
38
5,567
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
24 Jul 2024
🚨 Last chance to submit your public comment for our case related to Footage of Moscow Terrorist Attack.
If you or your organization feel you can contribute valuable perspectives, you can submit your comment here:
oversightboard.com/pc/footag…
1
3
1
641
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
18 Jul 2024
🚨 Only one week left to submit your public comments for one of our latest cases!
The Board would appreciate public comments addressing how Meta should moderate the online dissemination of terrorist attack footage.
Submit your comment here: oversightboard.com/pc/footag…
1
1
1,173
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
12 Jul 2024
Want to have a say in our decisions and help us hold Meta accountable?
Before deliberating cases, the Board invites individuals and organizations to share valuable perspectives that can help with reaching a decision on our cases.
Find out how to submit public comments here 👇
2
2
4
676
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
5 Jul 2024
In last week's Palestinian digital rights update:
📌Unchecked online violence against Palestinians is fuelling genocidal violence and systemic discrimination
📌Meta Accepts Key Oversight Board Recommendations to End Blanket Ban On “SHAHEED”
🔗 cutt.ly/Refg2bTN
3
4
269
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
5 Jul 2024
I am absolutely honoured to have been re-elected as the MP for North Shropshire.
THANK YOU to everyone who supported me throughout the campaign and backed me at the ballot box.
I can't wait to get stuck back into representing the greatest constituency in the UK.
57
106
810
20,828
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
3 Jul 2024
The Oversight Board is delighted to announce that @SnMartinPamela has been appointed as a new Co-Chair of the Oversight Board.
🔗: oversightboard.com/meet-the-…
8
2
14
1,681
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
2 Jul 2024
Today, Meta shared an update on the company’s progress on implementing the Board’s recommendations made in our policy advisory opinion on the treatment of the term “shaheed” (شهيد).
A thread with more details ↓
oversightboard.com/news/meta…
7
5
5
1,521
@freedexandrew@mastodon.social retweeted
14 Jun 2024
#ICYMI - Our Board Member @snmartinpamela was interviewed by @cjtenove from @UBCDemocracy for @CIGIonline. They discussed the crucial role of social media in electoral contexts and the challenges of ensuring free and fair elections.
29 May 2024
Is social media doing enough to protect election campaigns around the world?
@cjtenove spoke with @snmartinpamela about the Mexican election and what social media platforms can do to improve — or undermine — free and fair elections globally.
Details: cigionline.org/articles/qa-e…
4
4
8
1,434