New York: Meta, neglecting its policies of impartiality, has been involved in removing, and censoring Palestinian content on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.
In a scathing report released by Human Rights Watch, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has been accused of systemic censorship that has silenced voices in support of Palestine on its platforms. The report, titled “Meta’s Broken Promises: Systemic Censorship of Palestine Content on Instagram and Facebook,” outlines a troubling pattern of unwarranted removal and suppression of content expressing peaceful support for Palestine and engaging in public debate about Palestinian human rights.
According to Human Rights Watch, Meta’s flawed content moderation policies and their inconsistent implementation, heavy reliance on automated tools, and undue government influence over content removals are contributing to the systematic censorship of Palestine-related content. The report points out that this censorship comes at a critical time when social media platforms should serve as essential platforms for people to express their views, especially during times of conflict.
Deborah Brown, acting associate technology and human rights director at Human Rights Watch, criticizes Meta, stating, “Meta’s censorship of content in support of Palestine adds insult to injury at a time of unspeakable atrocities and repression already stifling Palestinians’ expression.”
Human Rights Watch conducted a review of 1,050 cases of online censorship from over 60 countries, finding that Meta’s actions were consistent with years of reporting and advocacy by various human rights organizations. The report highlights six key patterns of censorship, including content removals, account suspensions or deletions, restrictions on engagement, and what is referred to as “shadow banning.”
The HRW report also notes that Meta has been censoring posts that merely mention ‘Hamas’.
“Human Rights Watch documented hundreds of cases where the mere neutral mention of Hamas on Instagram and Facebook triggered the DOI policy, prompting the platforms to immediately remove posts, stories, comments, and videos, and restrict accounts that posted them… All cases that Human Rights Watch reviewed found that Meta removed even neutral mentions of Hamas in relation to developments in Gaza.”, the report summary states.
The report also sheds light on Meta’s misapplication of policies related to violent and graphic content, hate speech, nudity, and sexual activity, and its inconsistent application of the “newsworthy allowance” policy. Meta’s invocation of its “Dangerous Organizations and Individuals” policy, which incorporates U.S. designated lists of terrorist organizations, has been particularly problematic, sweeping broadly and restricting legitimate speech.
The report points to Meta’s awareness of these issues, referencing a 2021 report by Human Rights Watch that warned Meta about silencing people arbitrarily and without explanation. Despite this, Meta has failed to address these concerns adequately.
Human Rights Watch calls on Meta to overhaul its content moderation policies, aligning them with international human rights standards to ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness. The organization also urges Meta to permit protected expression on its platforms, particularly about human rights abuses and political movements. The report emphasizes the need for Meta to fulfill its human rights responsibilities and take concrete steps to address Palestine-related censorship.
Despite Meta’s assertion of human rights responsibility and core principles, the report argues that the company has failed to meet its commitments and calls for concrete actions rather than “tired apologies and empty promises.”
It should be noted that since October 7, Israel has been conducting continuous bombings on Palestinian cities, resulting in over 20,000 casualties, including a significant number of women and children. Several hospitals, mosques, and residential buildings have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes. Despite the global outcry, there has been no international sanction imposed on Israel. Israel, in violation of international laws during the Gaza war, has targeted medical aid centers and journalists covering the conflict, marking journalists as targets of their aggression.
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