Facebook: some high-profile users ‘allowed to break platform’s rules’

XCheck system whitelists' well-known users who are given special treatment, says Wall Street Journal report

Facebook gives high-profile users special treatment, which includes immunity from its rules for some, and allowed Brazilian footballer Neymar to post nude pictures of a woman who had accused him of rape, according to a report.

The XCheck or CrossCheck" system steers reviews of posts by well-known users such as celebrities, politicians and journalists into a separate system, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal. Under the programme, some users are whitelisted" - not subject to enforcement action - while others are allowed to post material that violates Facebook rules, pending content reviews that often do not take place.