Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is the newest public determine to query how Meta is moderating content material in the course of the Israel-Hamas battle. In a letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, Warren raises a number of points reported by Instagram customers since October 7, and presses Meta for extra details about its underlying insurance policies and the way a lot content material the corporate has taken down associated to the battle.
Within the letter, Warren cites stories from the media and human rights teams about inconsistencies within the firm’s moderation practices for the reason that begin of the battle. Specifically, she notes that quite a few Instagram customers have {accused} the corporate of “shadowbanning” them for posting in regards to the situations in Gaza. She additionally references a third-party audit, commissioned by Meta and revealed final yr, that discovered the corporate proper to free expression in 2021, the final time there was a serious escalation in violence within the Gaza Strip.
“Stories of Meta’s suppression of Palestinian voices increase severe questions on Meta’s content material moderation practices and anti-discrimination protections,” Warren writes. “Social media customers should know when and why their accounts and posts are restricted, significantly on the biggest platforms the place very important information-sharing happens.”
The letter asks for detailed details about how Meta is imposing its insurance policies within the context of the battle. For instance, it asks Meta to reveal statistics in regards to the variety of posts which were eliminated since October 7, and what number of of these takedowns have been appealed. It additionally asks Meta to that the corporate hid quite a few Instagram feedback with Palestinian flags for being “doubtlessly offensive.”
The letter offers Zuckerberg a January 5 deadline to reply to the questions. Meta didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Meta has come beneath rising scrutiny for its moderation practices since October 7. The corporate has publicly blamed a number of points on unspecified technical glitches and bugs, however has additionally acknowledged taking non permanent to gradual the unfold of doubtless dangerous content material.
Meta’s impartial Oversight Board can also be two circumstances associated to the Israel-Hamas battle content material, the primary time the group has opted to expedite its common months-long course of. The board stated on the time it had seen a surge in appeals from Fb and Instagram customers for the reason that begin of the battle.
