Meta's Controversial Moderation Practices Limit Palestinian Voices Amid Ongoing Conflict

A recent analysis by the BBC indicates that Facebook has significantly restricted the reach of Palestinian news outlets since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. Despite Meta's claims of neutrality, evidence suggests a stark contrast in audience engagement compared to Israeli news organizations, raising concerns over potential bias in moderation practices that disproportionately affect Palestinian voices.

Facebook has come under fire for allegedly restricting the visibility of Palestinian news sources during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with a recent BBC investigation highlighting a dramatic 77% decline in audience engagement for Palestinian outlets since October 2023. The report follows claims that Meta, the social media giant that owns Facebook, may be employing moderation tactics that inhibit Palestinian voices, particularly in light of the war.

An analysis by the BBC uncovered that prominent Palestinian-based news organizations, including Palestine TV and the Wafa news agency, experienced a significant reduction in involvement on their Facebook posts. One journalist from Palestine TV noted a staggering 60% drop in views, stating, "Interaction was completely restricted, and our posts stopped reaching people." This drop contrasts sharply with Israeli news organizations, which saw a 37% increase in audience engagement during the same period.

Adding to the criticism, leaked documents indicate a shift in Instagram's moderation policies aimed at Palestinian users post-October 7. An unnamed source revealed that these algorithm changes were made to aggressively moderate comments by Palestinians, a move that raised alarms about potential biases against their content. Meta asserted that the adjustments were necessary to combat rising "hateful content" from the region but also acknowledged that the policy changes have been rolled back.

Concerns about Meta’s moderation practices are not new, with past investigations revealing that inadequate Arabic-speaking expertise among the company’s moderators could result in misinterpretation of benign phrases as aggressive. This ongoing situation has led to suspicions among Palestinian journalists regarding systematic "shadow-banning" on various platforms owned by Meta.

Despite these challenges, many Palestinian journalists, including photojournalist Omar el Qataa who is currently stationed in northern Gaza, continue to share crucial updates and documented evidence of the conflict's realities, stating, “We must continue sharing Palestinian content.” As they navigate the perilous landscape of war reporting amid stringent online restrictions, the future of Palestinian voices in the digital realm remains uncertain.