It would be reckless to lessen safety measures online at such a precarious time for Israeli communities, according to a Jewish group.
The company’s oversight committee is recommending that Meta release its requirements regarding the glory of terrorists. Under the union’s advice, Facebook and Instagram users can recommend to terrorists as” martyr”, an Hebrew word for “martyr”.
The panel released its suggestion Tuesday, calling Meta’s present policy “overbroad”. As of now, Facebook and Instagram posts that refer to “designated dangerous individuals” —such as Hamas terrorists—as” shaheed” are removed under a Meta policy that bars users from glorifying terrorists. Those comments may be allowed under the board’s recommended scheme, so long as they do not include another” signs of murder”, such as an image of a tool.
” Deeds of criminal assault have significant consequences—destroying the lives of innocent people, impeding individual rights and undermining the fabric of our cultures”, the board’s advice says. ” Yet, any restriction on freedom of expression to prevent such crime may be necessary and equal, given that unfair treatment of information may be ineffective and even counterproductive”.
The shift comes amid a rise in virtual anti- Semitism in the midst of Hamas’s Oct. 7 despair assault on Israel. Anti- Celtic posts increased 28 percent in the week after the strike, according to Anti- Slander League ( ADL), while quite posts increased 919 pct on X, previously Online. According to the ADL, the differences between the two programs suggest that Facebook “enforced their hate talk scheme more strongly and/or their content moderation resources were more effective at removing violative information.”
For the World Jewish Congress, the Meta oversight board’s recommendation is misguided.
” There must be no confusion as to where Meta stands when it comes to praise of terrorists, terror groups and acts of violence]on ] its platforms”, the group’s technology director, Yfat Barak- Cheney, said in a Tuesday statement. It would be irresponsible to reduce safety measures online at such a precarious time for Jewish communities and many others around the world.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment. Its oversight board consists of 40 “diverse” members, according to its website, and was created in 2018 to “bring accountability” to content moderation decisions.
The company pledged to respond to the board’s recommendation in 60 days. According to Axios, Meta has” committed to observing board rulings that apply to particular posts and users.”
For years, Hamas has used the term” shaheed” to glorify suicide bombers. In 2016, for example, it announced the “martyrdom of shaheed Abdel Hamid Abu Srour”, a teenaged boy who carried out a suicide bombing that targeted a bus in Jerusalem.
