Meta announced on Tuesday that it will lift its blanket ban on the word “martyr,” following a year-long review by its Oversight Board which concluded that the social media giant’s approach was “overreaching.”
The company has faced criticism for years over its handling of content related to the Middle East. A 2021 study commissioned by Meta itself found that its approach had a “negative impact on human rights” for Palestinians and other Arabic-speaking users of its services.
These criticisms have intensified since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip last October.
Meta’s oversight board, which is funded but operates independently, began its review last year because the word “martyr” was the reason for more content removals than any other word or phrase on the company’s platforms.
Meta is the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. A review in March found that Meta’s rules on the word “martyr” failed to consider the word’s diverse meanings and led to the removal of content that did not intend to glorify violence.
Meta acknowledged the review findings on Tuesday, and the Oversight Board welcomed the change, stating that Meta’s policy on the word had resulted in censorship of millions of people across its platforms.
Social media platforms continue to suppress pages that convey the Palestinian narrative, attempting to expose and highlight the facts and violations committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.
Media institutions specializing in social media platforms have revealed a list of dozens of words that cause Palestinian pages and accounts to be banned.
These organizations have been compiling this list for more than two years, by tracking accounts that are banned and deleted for “offensive words,” which social media platforms classify as violating their standards.
Palestinian experts have called on human rights institutions to file lawsuits against the administrations of social media platforms, alleging their deletion of Palestinian content while maintaining pro-occupation content.
Meta Lifts Ban on “Martyr,” Addressing Criticism Over Censorship of Palestinian Content
In a significant move, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced the lifting of its blanket ban on the word “martyr.” This decision comes after a year-long review by the company’s independent Oversight Board, which found that Meta’s approach to the word was “overreaching” and resulted in the censorship of millions of users across its platforms.
Addressing a Longstanding Issue
Meta has faced criticism for years regarding its handling of content related to the Middle East, particularly concerning Palestinian narratives. A 2021 study commissioned by Meta itself highlighted the “negative impact on human rights” that its policies had on Palestinians and other Arabic-speaking users.
These criticisms escalated following the outbreak of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in October 2022. The Oversight Board initiated its review last year, recognizing that the word “martyr” was the primary reason for content removals on Meta’s platforms, surpassing any other word or phrase.
Oversight Board Finds Meta’s Policy Unjustified
A review conducted by the Oversight Board in March revealed that Meta’s rules on the word “martyr” failed to acknowledge the diverse meanings of the term and led to the removal of content that did not intend to glorify violence. The board emphasized that Meta’s policy resulted in the unjustified censorship of millions of users, particularly those sharing Palestinian narratives.
The Impact of Censorship on Palestinian Content
Social media platforms, including Meta, have been accused of actively suppressing content that portrays the Palestinian narrative, aiming to expose the realities of the Israeli occupation and its impact on Palestinians.
Investigations conducted by media institutions specializing in social media platforms have unveiled a list of dozens of words that trigger the automatic banning of Palestinian pages and accounts. These organizations have documented these words over a period of two years by tracking banned and deleted accounts labeled as “offensive,” based on social media platforms’ standards.
Calls for Legal Action Against Social Media Platforms
Palestinian experts are urging human rights organizations to initiate legal proceedings against social media platforms for their deletion of Palestinian content, while maintaining content that supports the Israeli occupation.
The Implication of Meta’s Decision
Meta’s decision to lift the ban on “martyr” marks a significant step towards addressing the concerns raised regarding the platform’s censorship of Palestinian narratives. However, the ongoing scrutiny of social media platforms’ content moderation policies and their impact on specific communities remains crucial.
Moving Forward
Despite this positive development, challenges remain in ensuring that social media platforms provide a fair and equitable space for all voices, including Palestinian narratives. Transparency, accountability, and ongoing dialogue between platforms and affected communities are essential for fostering a more inclusive and equitable online environment.