Meta Removes Glorification Content And Support For Hamas From Its Platform

Meta is taking decisive steps by removing the glorification content and substantial support for Hamas (photo: Twitter @instagram)

JAKARTA - Meta is taking firm steps by removing glorification content and substantial support for Hamas from its platform. This comes after the European Union "munished" social media companies because they were deemed insufficient in overcoming disinformation.

After an attack carried out by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on October 7, misleading claims and manipulated images spread across Facebook and other social media platforms.

Within three days of the attack, Meta declared it had removed or marked content that disrupted more than 795.000 shipments in Hebrew or Arabic.

Meta is also temporarily expanding policies related to violence and incitement as well as removing content that clearly identifies hostages taken by Hamas. Even if it is done to condemn or realize their situation.

Content with images of victims running away is still allowed, but Meta will prioritize security and privacy of victims of hostage-taking if they are not sure or cannot make a clear assessment, they said in a statement.

After the attack, Hamas has made dozens of Israeli hostages and foreigners in the Palestinian economy in Gaza.

Meta said it was aware of the threat from Hamas to broadcast the hostage footage and would soon remove such content and prevent the re-spread.

The company is also lowering the threshold where the technology will take action to avoid recommending content that has the potential to violate regulations on its Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms.

Although Hamas is prohibited from these platforms, Meta allows social and political discussions, such as reporting of news, human rights issues, or academic, neutral, and critical discussions.

The European Commission has put pressure on social media platforms to remove illegal and harmful content in accordance with their Digital Services Act (DSA), a violation of it could result in a large fine.

Meta's response differs from X, formerly known as Twitter, which has asked the Commission to provide more information about violations on its website. The Commission has opened an investigation into X.