Meta has been systematically removing pro-Palestinian content at an unprecedented rate, with leaked data revealing the company's near-total compliance with Israeli government takedown requests. The documents expose a troubling pattern of censorship that raises serious questions about free speech and digital platform neutrality.
The leaked information shows Meta removed over 90,000 posts in mere seconds, with almost total compliance to Israeli government requests. This massive content purge targeted posts about Palestinian experiences, including content from journalists, activists, and ordinary users attempting to document the ongoing conflict.
Human Rights Watch investigations corroborate these findings, revealing that of 1,050 documented takedowns, 1,049 were pro-Palestinian content. The removals often used dubious justifications like "hate speech" or "violence" for posts simply reporting on humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The involvement of Meta's Director of Public Policy for Israel, Jordana Cutler - a former Netanyahu advisor - adds another layer of complexity to these content removal strategies. Her direct interventions suggest a potential conflict of interest in content moderation processes.
These revelations highlight the growing concerns about social media platforms' role in shaping political narratives, particularly in sensitive geopolitical conflicts where information control can be as strategic as military action.