A recent study by the Arab Centre for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) and Utrecht University researcher Dr. Fabio Cristiano has uncovered extensive restrictions imposed by Meta on Palestinian content shared between 2021 and 2025.
The research analysed 3,520 cases reported to the Palestinian Observatory for Digital Rights Violations, revealing that Meta frequently applied its Dangerous Organisations and Individuals (DOI) policy to Palestinian posts. Originally designed to combat terrorism and organised violence, this policy was often used to restrict political, journalistic, and civic content unrelated to such activities.
Key Findings
- Nearly 70% of restricted users were not informed of the specific policy violations.
- Almost half of the 2,800 appeals submitted by 7amleh went unanswered by Meta.
- Restrictions extended beyond content removal to include reduced distribution, limits on recommendations, account feature restrictions, and live broadcast limitations.
- The frequency of restrictions increased significantly after October 7, 2023, coinciding with the Gaza conflict escalation.
Lead researcher Dr. Cristiano described Meta's approach as a form of "platformicide," highlighting overbroad policy application, disproportionate enforcement against journalists and media, algorithmic suppression, and poor communication with affected users.
Recommendations
The study urges Meta to:
- Conduct an independent human rights audit of its moderation practices concerning Palestinian content.
- Review the application of the DOI policy to prevent misuse.
- Enhance protections for journalism and public-interest content.
- Improve Arabic-language content moderation and transparency in decision-making.
- Develop better appeals and escalation processes for journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups.
