Six of the nine independent experts on the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) advisory board reportedly resigned on Sept. 28, 2026, amid a dispute over proposed changes to how advisers are chosen and what they can scrutinize. The broader advisory panel had 17 members.
The proposal would change who selects advisers
In July 2026, Meta vice president Nell McCarthy sent advisers a proposal to change the committee’s structure and role. Under the reported plan, technology companies would select new rotating advisers, replacing the existing process in which committee members elected new members.
The proposal would also restrict the advisory body from evaluating GIFCT’s performance, governance, budget, operations and individual member companies, and from making recommendations collectively. It proposed changing the group’s name from “committee” to “community.”
GIFCT’s response and the full panel’s objection
The full 17-member panel reportedly sent McCarthy a letter on Sept. 25, 2026, opposing the proposed limits on its independence and input. Six of the nine independent experts then reportedly resigned on Sept. 28.
A GIFCT spokesperson said on Sept. 28 that the proposal was not final. The spokesperson said it followed several rounds of feedback and was intended to bring civil society and governments into GIFCT’s work more substantively. The advisers’ objection centered on whether the proposed limits would weaken independent evaluation and accountability.
What GIFCT does
GIFCT coordinates threat intelligence and research among its member platforms. Its independent advisory committee, formed in 2020, provides a forum for scrutiny of the consortium’s work. The proposed restrictions would have narrowed the advisers’ ability to assess GIFCT and make recommendations as a group.
