Six of nine independent advisers quit Meta-chaired anti-terrorism group
The experts say proposed changes would curb their ability to scrutinise the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. The consortium says the changes are not final.
Six of the nine independent experts on the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism’s advisory committee have resigned, arguing that proposed governance changes would weaken its independence and oversight.
The plan, outlined by Meta content policy vice-president Nell McCarthy, would shift selection of new advisers from the committee to technology companies. It would also restrict the committee from evaluating the consortium’s performance, governance, budget, operations and member companies, according to the resignation letter reviewed by WIRED.
The departing advisers said their appeals against the proposals were ignored and they had lost confidence in GIFCT’s ability to fulfil its mission. The full 17-member panel had also written to McCarthy opposing the proposed limits, WIRED reported.
GIFCT said in a statement to WIRED that the changes were shaped by several rounds of feedback and were not final. The consortium said the discussions aimed to improve substantive input from civil society and governments.
GIFCT has about 35 technology company members, including Meta, Microsoft and YouTube, and coordinates the sharing of threat information and responses to extremist content. Meta chairs its operating board, while other companies on the board must approve policy changes.
The independent advisory committee was formed in 2020. WIRED reported in 2024 on governance disputes and problems with the consortium’s content tip-sharing database. It could not determine why the three other independent experts did not resign.
