Synopsis
Meta's Oversight Board has secured additional funding for its operations until 2028. This watchdog makes binding decisions on content moderation across Meta's platforms. The board previously criticised Meta for dismantling US fact-checking operations and easing restrictions on sensitive topics. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg initiated these changes, citing concerns about excessive censorship.Listen to this article in summarized format
Social media platforms have been facing intense pressure to balance allowing free speech and curbing misinformation, while integrating AI.
The new funds will go into the board's trust, co-chair Paolo Carozza said, adding that Meta continues to refer complex cases of content moderation to the board and respond to recommendations.
The board did not disclose the amount of extra funding. In 2024, Meta had committed to at least $30 million allocated annually over the next three years, according to a blog post from the watchdog.
The Oversight Board is a body of experts that makes binding decisions and issues recommendations on content issues across the company's social media platforms.
In April 2025, it sharply rebuked the Instagram parent for "hastily" dismantling its U.S. fact-checking operations and easing restrictions on contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg initiated those rollbacks in January 2025, arguing that previous moderation efforts had resulted in "too much censorship."
The changes, which included shifting to a crowdsourced "community notes" system, were widely viewed as an effort to ease conservative criticism and align with the incoming Trump administration.
