Cherie Blair warns of risks to women, minorities as Meta scales back moderation

In a sharp critique at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cherie Blair has raised serious concerns about Meta’s recent decision to scale back its department responsible for content moderation.

Speaking to Al Arabiya News’ Hadley Gamble, Blair highlighted the potential dangers this move could pose to women and minorities. The session, titled ‘AI and the Social Sector: Building an Intelligent Impact Continuum,’ featured not only Blair but also notable figures such as former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Miliband, and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

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Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, pointed to Meta’s significant role as the parent company of major platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

She underscored the dual nature of technology as both a boon and a bane for female entrepreneurs. She cited forthcoming research from her foundation, set to be released in March, indicating that while digital platforms are invaluable for business, they also expose users to significant risks.

“Twenty-five percent of the women surveyed received inappropriate, harassing, and threatening messages on their business sites, and 20 percent received unsolicited intimate photos and videos, Blair revealed, noting these incidents occurred even while Meta was actively moderating content.

The session, convened by Badr Jafar, a businessman, entrepreneur, and special envoy for business and philanthropy in the UAE, addressed the implications of technological advances on society’s most vulnerable.

The backdrop of Davos was notably subdued this year, with many tech executives absent or muted in their responses to the new US administration’s policies, preferring to express hope rather than critique.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s Founder in recent weeks has suggested a shift in Meta’s approach to platform regulation and free speech, aligning more closely with the political climate shaped by the return of Donald Trump to the presidency.

Meta’s decision to alter its content moderation practices could inadvertently inflict more harm than good, Blair cautioned, stressing the importance of data in guiding social changes that affect diverse groups, including children.

“I would very much like to work with Meta to consider very carefully the impact that these changes will have on not just women, of course, but minorities and of course, children. Data is key in this matter,” she added.

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