The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has submitted comments to the Meta Oversight Board regarding the moderation of posts containing the phrase "From the river to the sea." The phrase, which refers to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, has gained prominence in public discourse since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
In its comments, CDT emphasizes that "the meaning of most turns of phrase is context-specific and should be judged on that basis." The organization argues that Meta should improve oversight of automated processes and moderator guidance. Additionally, CDT calls for transparent and periodic evaluations of relevant policies and moderation systems to balance user safety with free expression.
The cases chosen by the Oversight Board illustrate this need for continuous improvement.