Genocide in Gaza: Facebook significantly limited reach of Palestinian media, BBC investigation finds

Facebook significantly limited the reach of Palestinian media during the Gaza genocide, according to a BBC investigation. An in-depth analysis of the data revealed that, since October 2023, there has been a significant decrease in public interaction with media based in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.

Facebook owner Meta has flatly denied any intention of targeted removal, but leaked documents show that Instagram increased moderation of Palestinian comments after that date.

While few foreign journalists have been allowed to travel to Gaza, under Israeli military escort, social media has become essential for relaying local voices. Pages like Palestine TV and the Wafa agency saw a 60% drop in their audience. At the same time, Israeli media recorded a 37% increase in their audience.

Meta admitted errors in moderation due to a lack of Arabic language expertise, but highlighted the difficulty of managing content related to Hamas, designated as a dangerous organization. According to the BBC, adjustments have been made, but criticism persists over the fairness of the treatment of Palestinian content. Despite the dangers, Palestinian journalists continue to work in Gaza, determined to share information about the situation on the ground, often hampered by content bans.

Faced with this situation, journalists and human rights activists are calling for international mobilization to defend freedom of expression and equitable access to information on digital platforms. They are calling for independent investigations to be carried out to ensure that content moderation policies are not discriminatory. Furthermore, they encourage governments and international organizations to remind technology companies of their responsibility to respect human rights, in order to prevent any form of unjustified digital censorship.