October 16, 2023
Meta has announced that in response to the European Union’s reprimand of social media companies for their handling of disinformation, particularly concerning Hamas, it will moderate related posts.
Within just three days of the attack, Meta revealed that it had taken down or labeled as disturbing over 795,000 pieces of content in Hebrew or Arabic. Additionally, Meta is temporarily broadening its policies on violence and incitement, removing content that identifies Hamas-held hostages, even if it’s intended to raise awareness or condemn their plight.
This move contrasts with X, formerly known as Twitter, which has requested more information from the European Commission regarding violations on its platform. The Commission has initiated an investigation into X, emphasizing the need for social media platforms to remove illegal and harmful content to comply with the Digital Services Act, which could result in substantial fines for non-compliance.
Meta said it remains committed to ensuring the safety and privacy of kidnapping victims, particularly when assessing content with blurred images. In light of Hamas’ threats to broadcast footage of hostages, Meta also pledged to swiftly remove such content and prevent its further dissemination.
Furthermore, Meta is lowering the threshold for its technology to take action against content that potentially breaches platform rules. Despite the ban on Hamas, Meta still permits social and political discourse, such as news reporting, discussions on human rights, and academic, neutral, and critical debates.
The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.
