30-8-2023 (SAN FRANCISCO) Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms, has declined a recommendation made by its oversight board to suspend the account of Cambodia’s former prime minister, Hun Sen. The oversight board, which operates independently but is funded by Meta, had advised a six-month suspension of Hun Sen’s account over allegations of using it to issue violent threats.
On Monday, Meta stated that suspending accounts outside of their regular enforcement framework would not align with their policies, including their protocol on restricting accounts of public figures during civil unrest. While Meta agreed to remove the video in question, it intends to review the oversight board’s recommendation to suspend Hun Sen’s account before taking any further action.
In response to the oversight board’s recommendation, Cambodia prohibited the 22-member body from entering the country, asserting that the recommendation was politically motivated. The case involving Meta arose after several users reported a video from January in which Hun Sen, aged 71, warned that those accusing his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of electoral fraud should either file a legal case or face physical repercussions from CPP supporters.
Hun Sen, who held power in Cambodia for nearly four decades before being succeeded by his son, Hun Manet, last week, has faced allegations from human rights organizations of using Facebook to intimidate political opponents and stifle criticism of his government—a claim his administration denies. Despite stepping aside, Hun Sen remains a prominent figure in Cambodian politics and has pledged to stay involved for at least another decade.
Hun Sen’s Facebook page, which he temporarily ceased using, boasted a substantial following of 14 million—a figure close to Cambodia’s population size. New content began appearing on the page just days before a heavily skewed election in July, operated by a member of Hun Sen’s media team.
The oversight board maintained its stance on Tuesday, standing by its decision and urging Meta to take every possible measure to discourage public figures from exploiting its platforms to incite violence. It emphasized the importance of social media companies preventing misuse that could undermine the integrity of democratic processes.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications responded to the oversight board’s statement on its Facebook page, “congratulating” Facebook for its decision and reiterating that the Meta oversight board remains unwelcome. The ministry accused the board of making politically motivated recommendations that interfered with Cambodia’s internal affairs.
