Thread by @internetfreedom

Thread: Facebook has announced a Human Rights Policy which will be applicable to all FB, WhatsApp, and Instagram users. We analyse this new policy in India's context, and call on FB to improve its practices openly and transparently for Indian users.
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internetfreedom.in/facebook-human…

FB outlines its commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Businesses and Human Rights. Given that FB has been criticized for aiding human rights violations for years (scoring a mere 45/100 on the RDR index), the policy is too little, too late.
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rankingdigitalrights.org/index2020/

1. FB has committed to protecting privacy on WhatsApp, saying it won't give governments access to people’s data. The IT Rules, 2021 require traceability of information originators which may affect encryption so this is welcomed. But the Policy is insufficient on many fronts:
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2. FB has compiled its policies, guidelines and practices in one place. But these policies are dated, and are the same ones that are already under scrutiny for a lack of effectiveness. There is nothing new being brought to the table in terms of commitments to the public.
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3. FB has mandated an annual report on human rights impacts and due diligence, making it accountable primarily to itself. This is concerning as its due diligence practices have already been brought into question and reprimanded for being ineffective and opaque.
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4. The policy doesn't provide for a rights audit in India. FB could have volunteered for an independent civil rights audit - which has been done in the US. But even though FB exercises immense power in India with little accountability, there is no acknowledgement of an audit.
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5. The UNGPs are insufficient for FB and researchers have argued that it must be held to a high standard of answerability. UNGPs too have faced criticism since they focus on process rather than outcomes and lack provisions for critical accountability.
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yalejreg.com/bulletin/but-f…

6. The policy is also vague. FB states ‘human rights defenders are a high risk user group’ and points out that it conducts due diligence to identify and mitigate risks. However, it doesn't reveal anything more about how it does this or how it navigates such assessments.
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7. The policy impacts freedom of speech, as well. It reiterates FB's commitment to community standards, which outline what kind of content is permissible. It's also relevant for Indian startups, which should provide human rights policies to build user trust.
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Amidst the discriminatory Free Basics program FB tried to bring to India, failures to tackle hate speech after Delhi Riots, its top executive not enforcing rules against ruling party members, and legal dispute with Delhi Assembly, the policy requires significant improvement.
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