Meta-Led Anti-Terrorism Group Faces Mass Resignation of Expert Advisers
Meta and other tech giants are pushing through structural changes at the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism that outside researchers allege will weaken oversight of an already embattled consortium.
Meta-led Anti-Terrorism Group Faces Resignation of Expert Advisers
The tensions between the independent advisory committee and the GIFCT date back to a July 2023 email from Meta's Nell McCarthy, a vice president overseeing content policy. The committee, which had been advising the GIFCT on preventing platforms from becoming havens for radical organizations and individuals, was informed that it would no longer be scrutinizing the effectiveness of Big Tech's efforts to curtail violence.
Meta, currently chairing the GIFCT's operating board, sought to "refresh" the 6-year-old committee, changing how new additions were selected and barring the committee from making collective recommendations. The advisers, including university researchers and civil society representatives, resigned, citing their belief that their appeals had been ignored and their confidence in the GIFCT's ability to deliver effectively had been lost.
They argued that a body that cannot scrutinize or evaluate is not an advisory body at all. The GIFCT, comprising about 35 members, including Microsoft and YouTube, aims to balance free expression and online safety but has faced criticism for its performance and transparency. The resignations threaten to deteriorate the organization's work at a time when balancing these aspects has become more challenging, particularly with the rise of generative AI tools and extremist content.
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