Meta agreed to change the benefits of users who belong to the VIP program, although without revealing the names of those who are part of it.
Meta responded to recommendations from its Oversight Board to avoid providing privileges to the VIP user program, a group of high-profile or famous people on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.
In its response, Meta agreed to adopt many of the board’s suggestions, but declined to implement changes that would have increased transparency about who is in the program.
Goal Changes
Meta ‘s response comes after huge criticism of the show for prioritizing “corporate concerns” over human rights .
In all, Meta agreed to adopt 26 of the 32 recommendations, at least partially. These include changes to the way cross-checking cases are handled internally at the company, as well as promises to release more information to the Oversight Board about the program.
The company also pledged to reduce the backlog of cases.
But notably, Meta refused to accept the Oversight Board ‘s recommendation to publicly disclose politicians, state actors, companies and other public figures who benefit from the protections.
The company said publicly disclosing details about the program “could have a myriad of unintended consequences that would make it both unfeasible and unsustainable.”
What also rejected
Meta rejected a recommendation to require users who are part of the cross-check to make “an additional and explicit commitment” to follow company rules.
And Meta said it was “assessing the feasibility” of a recommendation allowing people to opt out of this VIP group.
While Meta ‘s response shows that the company is willing to make changes to one of its controversial programs, it also underscores the company’s reluctance to make key details about them public.