Anti-Colectivos Content in Post-Election Venezuela

2024-048-FB-UA, 2024-049-IG-UA

Today, August 22, 2024, the Oversight Board selected a case bundle to be considered under expedited review, a process by which the Board issues accelerated content decisions within 30 days in exceptional circumstances.

The case bundle was referred by Meta and concerns two pieces of content posted to Facebook and Instagram regarding “Colectivos,” an umbrella term used to describe irregular armed gangs or paramilitary-style groups closely aligned with the government in Venezuela. Both pieces of content were posted after the presidential election in Venezuela.

In the first case, a video was posted to Instagram showing footage taken from an apartment block. The video captures colectivos on motorbikes pulling up to the block, with one woman heard saying that they see them trying to get into the apartment. Among other shouts, the person filming says: “Go to hell! I hope they kill you all!” Meta reviewed this video but found it did not violate our Violence and Incitement rules. This content differs to the post in the second case because it was not a direct call to action.

In the second case, a user posted a short video to Facebook showing a group of men on motorbikes, who are understood to be colectivos, and people running on the street. The man filming shouts that people are being attacked. The accompanying caption in Spanish calls out security forces for not defending the people and that they should go and “kill those damn colectivos.” Meta removed this post under our Violence and Incitement rules as a call to action to commit high-severity violence.

Meta generally does not allow “threats of violence that could lead to death (or other forms of high severity violence).” However, our policy does have a carveout that allows aspirational or conditional threats of violence, including expressions of hope that violence will be committed, directed at violent actors. This is because often people use aspirational speech in dialogue around civic and political issues involving people and groups who have perpetrated violence.

Meta referred this case to the Board because we found it significant and difficult as it creates tension between our values of safety and voice.

While Meta seeks to allow what may be legitimate discussion on topics of public importance and there is public interest value in allowing people to speak out against the colectivos, we want to remove direct threats even when targeting violent actors in the interest of safety. These cases present difficult tradeoffs between voice and safety in the midst of a volatile, post-election crisis.

We will implement the board’s decision once it has finished deliberating, and we will update this post accordingly. Please see the Board’s website for the decision when they issue it.

We welcome the Oversight Board’s decision today, September 5, 2024, on this case bundle. In the first case, the Board upheld Meta’s decision to leave up the content on Instagram. In the second case, the Board overturned Meta's decision to remove the content from Facebook. Meta will comply with the Board's decision and reinstate the content to Facebook within 7 days.

These cases present difficult tradeoffs between voice and safety in the midst of a volatile, post-election period. We value the Board's ongoing input and insights into our policies and procedures. Please see the Board’s website for the complete case decision language.