IslamiCity
Listen PodCasts, Live Quran, Watch Videos @VideoHub
The way people follow news events has changed dramatically in the digital age. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become primary sources of information for millions, transforming how the public engages with global events. While this shift enables rapid dissemination of news, it also introduces new challenges, including questions of accuracy, truth, and trust, particularly in politically and socially sensitive contexts.
Recent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the storming of the U.S. Capitol in 2021, have highlighted the dual nature of digital media. Social platforms allow individuals to document events, expose abuses, and mobilize public opinion. At the same time, they can amplify disinformation, incite violence, and polarize public responses. The war on Gaza, which began in October 2023, exemplifies this tension. Observers have noted that both sides of the conflict use terms such as "hate" to describe opponents, further polarizing online discourse.
Social media companies face particular challenges in moderating hate speech and sensitive content across multiple languages. Hate speech is highly context-specific, and automated moderation systems often struggle to interpret cultural and linguistic nuances. This has raised concerns about uneven enforcement, especially when Arabic-language content appears to be moderated more strictly than Hebrew-language content.
A 2022 report by Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) examined Meta's (formerly Facebook) handling of content in Israel and Palestine during the May 2021 crisis. It found that while Meta took steps to address hate speech and violence, its policies adversely affected Palestinian users, limiting their ability to share real-time experiences. Content documenting violence or expressing Palestinian perspectives was often restricted, while similar Hebrew-language content faced fewer barriers.
Al Jazeera Arabic conducted experiments to test Facebook's content moderation practices. By creating two pages-one in Arabic ("Palestinian Lama") and one in Hebrew ("Land of the Ancestors")-the team posted identical content simultaneously. Posts about Palestinian casualties were immediately removed from the Arabic page, often accompanied by warnings or threats of page removal. In contrast, identical content on the Hebrew page remained online and sometimes even received promotional boosts.
This experiment highlighted inconsistencies in content moderation and suggested a bias in the treatment of Arabic-language content. Palestinian activists and journalists have reported similar experiences of shadow banning, account removal, and limited visibility for posts supporting Palestinian rights.
Investigations also revealed the role of government-affiliated units in influencing content moderation. For example, Israel's Cyber Unit, part of the State Attorney's Office, has submitted thousands of takedown requests to social media platforms, particularly targeting Palestinian content. While platforms claim independence in enforcement, these requests illustrate how external actors can shape the visibility of content, intentionally or indirectly.
Internal leaks from Facebook employees have also highlighted vulnerabilities in content moderation systems, including the potential manipulation of platforms through coordinated campaigns or "electronic armies" deployed by various governments to sway public opinion.
Meta has taken steps to address these issues, including the establishment of an Oversight Board in 2018. This board reviews content moderation decisions and claims independence from Meta. However, critics argue that the board's composition and decisions may reflect imbalances, with limited representation of Arabic-speaking members and individuals from politically affected regions.
The Oversight Board is currently examining the use of certain Arabic terms, such as "Shahid" (martyr), in the context of social media posts, recognizing the need for nuanced and culturally informed moderation policies.
The differential treatment of content based on language and political context has significant implications. When users cannot communicate their experiences freely, especially during conflicts, the global understanding of events becomes skewed. This not only silences marginalized voices but also contributes to polarization, mistrust, and the spread of misinformation.
Digital platforms now hold unprecedented power in shaping public discourse. Their policies and enforcement practices can influence international perceptions, impact human rights, and affect the ability of communities to document their realities. As such, transparency, fairness, and linguistic and cultural competence are crucial to ensuring that social media fulfills its potential as a tool for informed engagement rather than a mechanism for silencing dissent.
A Letter to Amir
