Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a significant expansion of its hate speech policy aimed at removing posts that target “Zionists” in derogatory ways.
The updated policy, unveiled on Tuesday, seeks to curb the use of “Zionist” as a vehicle for expressing antisemitic sentiments toward Jews and Israelis, Meta stated. The company emphasized the necessity of distinguishing between legitimate political discourse and harmful rhetoric directed at individuals.
In consultation with over 145 experts, Meta made the decision to take action against content that promotes antisemitic stereotypes, incites harm, or denies the existence of Jews or Israelis under the guise of criticizing “Zionists.” Posts making dehumanizing comparisons or calling for harm using the term “Zionists” will be removed under the new guidelines.
However, discussions pertaining to the Zionist political movement itself will remain permissible on Meta’s platforms, the company clarified.
Meta has faced criticism for its handling of content related to the Middle East, with concerns raised about the suppression of pro-Palestinian viewpoints and perceived inconsistencies in applying hate speech policies on Facebook.
The social media giant’s content moderation practices have been scrutinized for lack of transparency and external oversight, particularly in cases where hate speech, including calls to violence and genocide against ethnic groups, went unnoticed in ads and posts.
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