Mistreatment by Ecuadorian Forces

UPDATED

JUN 4, 2024

2024-036-FB-UA

We welcome the Oversight Board's decision today, June 4, 2024, on this case which deals with a video posted to Facebook that shows a person in uniform hitting and kicking a group of protestors. The audio includes someone saying a word which Meta has designated as a slur in Spanish-speaking countries. The caption states that the user shared the video to raise awareness of soldiers’ mistreatment of detainees.

Upon initial review, Meta removed this content for violating our Hate Speech policy, as laid out in the Facebook Community Standards. However, after the board brought the case to our attention, we determined that we had removed the content in error and reinstated the post with a “Mark as Sensitive” warning screen. Under our Violent and Graphic Content policy, we apply a Mark as Sensitive warning screen to “imagery depicting one or more persons subjected to violence and/or humiliating acts by one or more uniformed personnel doing a police function.”

There will be no further updates to this case.