Advocate asks Facebook to end the “blatant” Palestinian censorship censorship news

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In extensive reports about Palestinian users and censorship of content on social media, human rights organizations demand answers.

Human rights groups and Palestinian advocates asked Facebook to respond after multiple reports from the social media giant. Censoring Palestinian content On its platform, especially during the recent Israeli war Attack on the Gaza Strip And occupied East Jerusalem.

in a letter In a speech to Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg (Sheryl Sandberg) on ​​Wednesday, dozens of organizations stated that “they are outraged and disturbed by the recent censorship of Palestinian users and their supporters on your platform” .

Earlier this month, Palestinian social media users reported that their posts on Facebook and Instagram (owned by Facebook) expressed solidarity with families facing forced deportation from residential areas in East Jerusalem. Sheikh Jarrah Has been blocked, hidden or deleted.

“Currently, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are usually the only tools for Palestinian demonstrators and residents. They can share information in the face of Israeli government and police repression and attacks on civilians to ensure their safety.” This letter .

“The blatant censorship of Palestinian political content is putting these activists at further risk.”

Signatories of this letter include 7 amleh, the Adalah Judicial Project, the Committee on Islamic Relations of the United States (CAIR), and the Jewish Voice for Peace – asking Facebook to explain how it applies its policies, provide all cleared data, and allow independent researchers to review the cleared .

It also asked the company to review its relationship with the Israeli government.

Facebook did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on Wednesday.

The Palestinian Digital Rights Organization 7amleh previously defendant Social media companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, work with the Israeli government to review posts that document Israel’s violation of Palestinian rights.

Israeli media reported on May 14 that Israeli Attorney General Benny Gantz had urged Facebook and TikTok executives to take action at a meeting to oppose “false information and inflammatory behavior” on their platforms.

Earlier this month, when Instagram was asked about posts, it said that technical flaws affected millions of stories around the world. However, this explanation was rejected by Palestinian digital rights experts.

‘Significantly rise’

in a report 7amleh said last week that it had recorded more than 500 reports of Palestinian digital copyright infringements between May 6 and 19. The report said this was a “significant increase in censorship of Palestinian political speech and online narratives.”

On Tuesday, the Associated Press News Agency also Reported Seventeen journalists in Gaza said that their WhatsApp accounts have been blocked since the ceasefire took effect on Friday to end Israel’s 10-day bombing of Palestinian territories and the launch of rockets into Israel.

The news agency said that by noon on Monday, only four journalists working for Al Jazeera confirmed that their accounts had been restored.

The letter to Facebook came the day after US Congressman Rashida Tlaib sent a letter to the executives of Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, asking for more information about the dismissal and each company’s decision. What information is required by the program.

She wrote: “Because mainstream media reports often ignore and silence the voices of Palestinians, social media has become an important source of information, pictures and videos for recording injustices faced by Palestinians.”

“Apart from social media, Palestinians generally have no choice but to express their voice.”

Tlaib also questioned what she called a “disturbing double standard” in which pro-Palestinian positions were censored or restricted, while “Israeli extremist groups were allowed to coordinate violent mobs against Palestinians.” Attack”.

New York Times Reported On May 19, extreme Jewish Israelis formed at least 100 new WhatsApp groups,” Commit violence Palestinian tensions” and recent protests against Israeli violence in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.



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