The Instagram parent may not automatically eliminate the phrase” From the valley to the sea,” which some people perceive as showing solidarity with Palestinians and others as endorsing violence against Jews, according to the Oversight Board of Meta Platforms on Wednesday.
The board, which operates autonomously but is funded by Meta Platforms, emphasised that the phrase has numerous interpretations and its use cannot essentially been deemed dangerous, violent, or unfair.
The term refers to the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan, between which Israel and Israeli provinces are located.
It is often chanted at pro-Palestinian presentations. While reviewers argue that it is racist and calls for Israel’s destruction, different groups challenge this understanding.
” Context is crucial”, said Oversight Board co-chair Pamela San Martin. Just removing social conversation is not a solution, they say. There needs to be room for debate, especially during times of turmoil and issue”.
The committee made its decision after reviewing three cases involving phrases that were posted on Facebook by various users.
” We welcome the union’s evaluation of our advice on this problem”, Meta said in a speech. We know that our laws are shaped by global problems, and we frequently seek suggestions from experts outside Meta, including the Oversight Board, but we also know that not all of our laws were created with safety in mind.
The club’s determination was praised by Alex Abdo, the Knight First Amendment Institute’s attorney and advocate for free speech at Columbia University. ” Thoughtful ( and in my opinion, correct )”, he said.
Likewise, the Anti-Defamation League, a Hebrew advocacy party, criticised the decision. The use of this word has the effect of making Jews and those who support Israel feeling isolated and marginalized, it said.
The committee urged Meta to increase access to data for reporters and researchers in addition to its position on the phrase.
This comes less than a month after Meta discontinued Crowd Tangle, a tool widely used to monitor misinformation and conduct content research on Meta’s platforms, including Instagram.
