Meta’s oversight board reported “recurrent enforcement failures” regarding content moderation during the US midterm elections and Brazil’s presidential election. The failures included both suppressing political speech through over-enforcement and undermining electoral integrity through under-enforcement on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Specifically, the board cited the removal of political activist accounts in the US and technical restrictions affecting a presidential candidate's accounts in Brazil, raising concerns of electoral interference. Brazil’s top electoral court recently ordered Meta to demonstrate equal treatment of presidential candidates Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, following allegations of suppressed content. While Meta denies bias, it admitted to technical errors resulting in the deactivation of Lula’s campaign ads, issues not limited to Brazil. The board emphasized the need for more transparent and consistent enforcement practices to protect political speech during elections.

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