Report: Meta Accused of Censoring Pro-Palestinian Accounts

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Dec 21, 2023

Image copyright: Chesnot/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Dec 21, 2023

The Facts

International NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has claimed that social media giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been systematically censoring pro-Palestinian accounts in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
According to a report published on Wednesday, Meta has allegedly either taken down or suppressed over 1K posts from Palestinians and their supporters involving peaceful content in favor of Palestine on its main platforms between October and November.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Horrific antisemitism on social media skyrocketed after Hamas' catastrophic attack on Oct. 7, as anti-Israel and pro-Hamas accounts flooded platforms with propaganda and fake images. Social media platforms have a duty to prevent toxic hate speech and disinformation, especially during the fog of war in a volatile conflict. This war is difficult for everyone, but social media platforms cannot make the problem worse by spreading lies and dangerous content — a mindful approach to content moderation is required.

The Media Line

Establishment-critical narrative

In an ever-worsening humanitarian cataclysm in Gaza, Meta has been silencing the voices of people who wish to spread the truth about the conflict. These voices claimed that Palestinian suffering was disproportionately represented in the media, and their social media posts are vital documentation for the historical record. Meta's deletion of these 1K posts is reckless and it's causing pain and suffering for end users.