NEW YORK – Following the Meta Oversight Board’s recommendation today to end a ban on the word “shaheed” (“martyr”), the World Jewish Congress reiterated the need to address hate on the platform. Yfat Barak-Cheney, WJC Director of Technology and Human Rights, shared the following:
“There must be no confusion as to where Meta stands when it comes to praise of terrorists, terror groups and acts of violence its platforms. The World Jewish Congress has partnered closely with Meta and its Oversight Board to bring the concerns of Jews around the world front and center, and we will continue to insist on meaningful content moderation to prevent the spread of hate.
“Previously, we welcomed the board’s decision to overturn Meta’s original position on an Instagram post containing false and misleading claims about the Holocaust. However, at such a precarious moment for Jewish communities and many others around the world, it would be irresponsible to reduce safety measures online.
“The current policy prohibiting the use of ‘shaheed’ in relation to entities and individuals already designated as dangerous by the platform has been effective and important for the safety of all people facing terrorism worldwide. WJC will continue to serve as a resource to Meta and other social media companies and a consistent advocate for increased safety online.”