Ensuring AI Accountability: Lessons from Meta’s Oversight Board on Human Rights

Recent developments in social media demonstrate that innovation cannot reliably be left to govern itself. This lesson has given rise to numerous AI governance initiatives, ranging from voluntary guidelines to binding regulatory frameworks, that underscore the importance of maintaining a “human-in-the-loop”, to align algorithmic systems with societal values and mitigate potential harms. Although the idea of independent accountability mechanisms for AI has become a focal point within the field, only one model currently exists in which an external body is empowered to issue binding decisions for a technology company, and make recommendations.

In this 5th year anniversary, Julie Owono, an inaugural member of Meta’s Oversight Board, will offer a critical examination of the Board’s jurisprudence, elucidating how its decisions and recommendations contribute to the protection of human rights on Meta’s platforms. She will conclude by assessing the broader implications of entrusting accountability to an external, independent body tasked with overseeing large-scale technology platforms.