Meta’s Oversight Board to Review Threat Against Human Rights Defender in Peru Posted on Facebook

• The Oversight Board will evaluate a Facebook post in which an image of a human rights defender in Peru was manipulated.
• Organizations and individuals are invited to share their perspectives on this case and the use of social media to attack NGOs.
• This case presents a key opportunity to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders on digital platforms.

Washington, D.C. – January 15, 2025 – The Meta Oversight Board is an independent body tasked with reviewing content moderation decisions on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, aiming to ensure that posts on these platforms respect freedom of expression and other international human rights standards. The Board will review a key case related to the protection of human rights defenders in Peru against digital threats. The Board has opened a public comment period for individuals and organizations, which will be available until January 28, 2025.

In July 2024, the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) reported a Facebook post in which an image of a prominent human rights defender in Peru was manipulated using artificial intelligence to show her face covered in blood. The image was accompanied by messages aimed at discrediting the work of civil society organizations. The post was made by one of the leaders of the self-styled group “La Resistencia,” a radical collective in Peru known for its acts of intimidation, threats, and stigmatization against human rights defenders. CEJIL denounced this post as a veiled threat in the context of growing hostility toward activists in the country, where digital risks often lead to physical aggression and where the Peruvian state does not act with due diligence or preventive measures.

The review of this case will assess how Meta’s policies are applied to digital threats and the impact of possible errors in moderating such content. Furthermore, it represents a unique opportunity to influence the policies of one of the world’s leading digital platforms, setting precedents that will strengthen the protection of those who face risks due to their human rights work.

In its public comment request, the Board seeks information on the following topics:

• Sociopolitical context in Peru: Risks for defenders, journalists, and civil society, and laws affecting their work.
• Narratives on social media: The use of content to attack NGOs and potential links to violence.
• Manipulated images: The impact of digital tools on the intimidation and threats to activists.
• Moderation of veiled threats: Effects of errors in content removal and proposals to protect human rights defenders.

In a region where the civic space is rapidly closing and human rights defenders face increasing hostility, social media can and must play a key role. Therefore, this case represents a crucial opportunity to influence moderation policies and protect human rights defenders.