Meta Platforms (META.O) on Tuesday, announced that it will intensify its efforts to eliminate posts targeting “Zionists” where the term is misused to refer to Jewish individuals and Israelis, instead of supporters of the political movement.
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram disclosed in a blog post that it will now remove content “attacking ‘Zionists’ when it is not explicitly about the political movement” and utilizes antisemitic stereotypes or poses threats of harm through intimidation or violence aimed at Jews or Israelis.
Meta’s hate speech policy, which bans direct attacks on individuals based on protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, and gender identity, is at the core of this update.
Previously, Meta’s policies addressed the term “Zionist” as a stand-in for Jewish or Israeli people in very limited scenarios. However, the tech giant recognized that this approach was inadequate in addressing the broader misuse of the term.
This policy revision comes after extensive consultations with 145 stakeholders from civil society and academia worldwide, amidst rising tensions in the Middle East following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
For years, Meta has faced criticism regarding its handling of content related to the Middle East. These criticisms intensified after the outbreak of the war, with human rights groups accusing the company of censoring pro-Palestinian content on its platforms.
In response, Meta is now taking significant steps to ensure its platforms do not become vehicles for hate speech or violence, aiming for a more balanced and respectful online discourse.