Shareholders' Call for Transparent Hate Speech Management by Zuckerberg in Meta Corporation
Rewritten Article:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Jewish investor network JLens are pushing Meta to open up about its approaches to handling hate speech on its platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. They're planning to present Proposal 8, a measure requiring Meta to disclose a comprehensive report, at the shareholders' meeting.
Despite the proposal's potential, it might face obstacles due to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's control over a majority of the voting shares. Yet, the ADL and JLens are urging investors to back them in this initiative, signaling a growing pressure on Meta to be more transparent about its handling of antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, and ableist content.
Proposal 8 calls for Meta to unveil a report detailing how it identifies, moderates, and tackles hate speech on its platforms. The report would provide data on the spread of hate speech across various communities, as well as an analysis of any changes in policy impact. It would also disclose new measures Meta has developed or is planning to introduce to combat such hate speech against marginalized groups.
Meta has kept mum about the proposal so far. However, the company's board has asked shareholders to reject it, asserting that Meta already provides comprehensive content moderation systems and transparency reports, with no further report offering significant insights.
ADL and JLens, on the other hand, emphasize the importance of bringing the issue to the light and highlighting the urgency for Meta to be held accountable. As Ari Hoffnung, CEO of JLens, puts it, "This is a long-term endeavor to ensure Meta takes responsibility for the harmful content on its platforms. Transparency is the first crucial step."
Besides user safety concerns, JLens also views hate speech as a financial risk to Meta's investors. Exposure to legal, regulatory, and reputational hazards, and potential repercussions in business relationships with advertising clients are potential threats. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL, considers Meta a priority due to the high volume of antisemitic and hateful content found on the platform. He notes, "Meta is a publicly traded company, and as shareholders, we have a mechanism to drive transparency and accountability through resolutions like Proposal 8."
Shareholder proposals are a common tool during the proxy season, with the ADL having a long history of advocating for civil rights, founded in 1913. After acquiring JLens in 2022, a Jewish values-aligned investor network, ADL now has the means to influence Meta's leadership via shareholder proposals. Even though ADL does not hold Meta shares, the acquisition of JLens presents an opportunity for influence.
Pressure on Meta comes at a time when Meta's independent Oversight Board criticized Meta's handling of enforcement of rules against hate speech, warning of potential threats to user safety and the brand's reputation. The Board's concerns related to Meta's recent changes in moderation policies.
ADL stands firm for free speech but refuses to accept that it should come at the cost of user safety. Greenblatt refers to Reddit's transparency report as a model he hopes Meta would emulate should Proposal 8 be successful.
Besides Proposal 8, other shareholder proposals Meta is facing include calls for greater transparency regarding child safety, oversight of Meta's use of artificial intelligence, and improved reporting on the impact of data collection practices on user privacy.
This year, JLens went beyond Meta, submitting shareholder letters to Intel, General Dynamics, and Lockheed Martin, urging the rejection of anti-Israel proposals. In the coming 2024 proxy season, JLens and the ADL plan to advocate for stronger measures against antisemitism and other forms of hate at numerous companies.
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This article was translated from English. Read the original article here.
- What is the stance of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and JLens on Meta's handling of hate speech? They are urging Meta to be more transparent and are planning to present a proposal (Proposal 8) that calls for a comprehensive report detailing how Meta identifies, moderates, and tackles hate speech on its platforms.
- Is Proposal 8 likely to be accepted? Its success may face obstacles due to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's control over a majority of the voting shares. However, the ADL and JLens are urging investors to back them in this initiative, signaling a growing pressure on Meta.
- Apart from Proposal 8, JLens also views hate speech as a financial risk to Meta's investors, being a priority due to the high volume of antisemitic and hateful content found on the platform. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL, considers Meta a priority and notes, "Meta is a publicly traded company, and as shareholders, we have a mechanism to drive transparency and accountability through resolutions like Proposal 8."
