Facebook will appoint Oversight Board members with diverse views and backgrounds who each hold free expression as their paramount value.

The test is whether Facebook appointed Oversight Board members with diverse views and backgrounds, each of whom holds free expression as their paramount value. Diversity can be shown across nationality, profession, region and political outlook. The free-expression part can be shown by the published selection criteria, member bios, and members' own public statements and records. True: a diverse board was appointed, and the available evidence (selection criteria, bios, members' statements) shows a commitment to free expression as the leading value, with no credible documentation that members put other values first. Mostly true: a diverse board was appointed and free expression was central, but the commitment is documented for most members rather than every member. Mixed: a diverse board was appointed, but credible evidence, such as members' own public statements, shows that several members treat other values (for example safety or protection from hate speech) as paramount over free expression. Mostly false: the appointed board was notably not diverse, or free expression was clearly not a selection priority. False: no board members were appointed.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 Welcoming the Oversight Board Facebook (about.fb.com) · 6 May 2020 Own record

   “The members announced today reflect a wide range of views and experiences. They have lived in over 27 countries, speak at least 29 languages and are all committed to the mission of the Oversight Board.”

2. E2 Why Facebook's Oversight Board is Not Diverse Enough Just Security · 21 May 2020

   “Of the 20 members, five come from the United States (25%). Of the four co-chairs, two come from the United States (50%).”

3. E3 Why Facebook's Oversight Board is Not Diverse Enough Just Security · 21 May 2020

   “Whether rightly or wrongly, lawyers comprise a supermajority of the FOB.”

4. E4 Facebook's Oversight Board: Who (and What) Is Missing From the Picture So Far Electronic Frontier Foundation · 20 May 2020

   “We don’t see any LGBTQ advocates, transgender Board members, or disability advocates.”

5. E5 Oversight Board Membership Selection Process Facebook (about.fb.com newsroom) · 17 September 2019 Own record

   “In addition to sourcing members from a mix of professional backgrounds and experience, the board will strive for a broad diversity of geographic, gender, political, social and religious representation and perspectives.”

6. E6 Meet The Board Oversight Board · 29 April 2024

   “To ensure a global perspective, our Board Members come from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds, speak more than 30 languages and are chosen to be reflective of the diverse users of Facebook, Instagram and Threads.”

7. E7 Oversight Board (Meta) Wikipedia Own record

   “but a quarter of the group and two of the four co-chairs are from the United States, which some free speech and internet governance experts expressed concerns about.”

8. E8 Establishing Structure and Governance for an Independent Oversight Board Facebook (about.fb.com newsroom) · 17 September 2019 Own record

   “Competing. There is a tension between equally important values.”

The evidence shows a Board was appointed with members from varied countries and backgrounds, though critics questioned how diverse it was (E1, E2, E4, E6, E7). No evidence item addresses whether members hold free expression as their paramount value or put other values first (E1, E5, E8), so the free-expression part of the claim cannot be judged under the criteria.