HRW attacks Meta for ‘silencing’ pro-Palestinian voices

Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Meta of “silencing” pro-Palestinian voices on Facebook and Instagram.

The organisation said that the censoring is “systemic online censorship” targeting the Palestinian content.

“Meta’s policies and practices have been silencing voices in support of Palestine and Palestinian human rights on Instagram and Facebook in a wave of heightened censorship of social media,” the group said.

“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,” said Deborah Brown, acting associate director of HRW’s technology and human rights division.

The group referenced 1,050 cases of censorship, 1,049 of which involved “peaceful content in support of Palestine that was censored or otherwise unduly suppressed, while one case involved removal of content in support of Israel,” HRW said.

“Meta should permit protected expression, including about human rights abuses and political movements, on its platforms,” HRW said.

On Tuesday, Meta’s independent oversight board criticised the company for removing posts documenting the war crimes in Gaza.

Israel’s vicious bombardment of Gaza has so far killed more than 20,000 civilians.