Independent Audit Finds Facebook Censored Palestinian Users During 2021 Conflict
A new report from Business for Social Responsibility reveals that Meta violated the free speech rights of Palestinian users by restricting their posts during the May 2021 conflict with Israel.
An independent consulting firm called Business for Social Responsibility finds that Facebook violates the free speech rights of Palestinian users during the May 2021 outbreak of violence. The report shows that the social media platform restricts and blocks many Palestinian posts related to the conflict while users attempt to share their experiences on the ground.
The censorship occurs during an 11-day bombing campaign that kills at least 250 Palestinians, including 66 children, as well as a dozen people in Israel. In response to the suppressed content, pro-Palestinian activists launch a campaign to downgrade Facebook’s app store ratings, which the company internally labels as a "severity 1" emergency.
The Facebook Oversight Board recommends this outside investigation in September 2021 to determine the extent of the platform's content moderation failures. The resulting audit confirms that Meta's algorithms and policies unfairly target Palestinian voices, sparking widespread criticism from human rights advocates and major news organizations.