FOSI statement on revocation of Facebook membership

The Family Online Safety Institute’s Board of Directors has voted to revoke the membership of Facebook. Questions were raised over the recent reports of a campaign of disinformation around online safety issues that stoked unwarranted fears among students, teachers and parents. These concerns instigated a special review by the Board as per FOSI’s bylaws, to assess whether a member company’s actions align with the organizational mission of working to make the online world a safer place for kids and families. One of the core tenets of FOSI is to combat misinformation to help educate and inform parents and policymakers.

Following this review, the Board decided to take the action of revoking Facebook’s membership of FOSI. In addition, FOSI will resign its seat on the Facebook Safety Advisory Board. The Board also agreed that they would be open to Facebook reapplying for membership of FOSI in eighteen months’ time.