Facebook oversight board picks first cases

Facebook’s independent oversight board announced on Tuesday that it’s taking on its first six cases.

The board, which Facebook created in response to criticism of its handling of problematic content, could overrule the social media company’s decisions to remove certain pieces of content from its platforms.

It has received 20,000 cases since opening its doors in October.

Three of the six chosen cases involved content that Facebook removed for breaking hate speech rules.

The other three cases involved content removed from Facebook or Instagram for violating rules on nudity, dangerous individuals and organizations, and violence and incitement.

The board has opened a week-long public comment period on the first cases, which will be reviewed by five-member panels.

There is a 90-day deadline for decisions on the cases to be reached and for Facebook to act on them.