Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has come under fire from its own Oversight Board over sweeping policy changes introduced in January that scaled back fact-checking and loosened moderation on sensitive topics like immigration and gender identity.

In a sharply worded statement on Wednesday, the independent board criticized Meta for implementing the changes abruptly and without public transparency or adequate human rights assessment. The overhaul, which came shortly before President Donald Trump began his second term, marked a major shift from years of efforts aimed at curbing misinformation and harmful content.

“These decisions were made hastily, deviating from Meta’s usual procedures,” the board said, warning of potential global harm, particularly in regions facing conflict or crisis.

The changes have put the Oversight Board at odds with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has worked to rebuild ties with conservative groups and the Trump administration. He defended the rollback, claiming past content moderation policies had led to excessive censorship, though the company has yet to offer data to support those claims.

Among the most controversial moves, Meta ended its U.S. fact-checking program, relaxed restrictions on posts containing offensive language, and narrowed its automated content scanning to focus only on severe violations like terrorism and child exploitation.

While Meta welcomed the board’s rulings that supported free speech, it remained silent on those requiring content removal. The board, meanwhile, issued 17 recommendations, urging Meta to clarify its hate speech rules, evaluate the impact of the changes globally, and report on the effectiveness of its new Community Notes tool every six months.

Meta said it will respond to the recommendations within 60 days.