Meta denies barring pro-Palestinian content, but won't allow Hamas praise

Meta, the owner of popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, has denied claims that it is blocking posts in support of Palestine.

This comes after a screenshot of a message, believed to be sent on Meta-owned WhatsApp, warning that Meta Malaysia may suspend business pages which post Palestine-related content.

"I received a call from Meta Malaysia earlier, advising that Facebook page admins posting such content, even on their personal accounts, are potentially putting their business page at risk.

"Posting on this topic could result in receiving a warning and might even lead to a suspension of the page," the purported WhatsApp message read, which have already started circulating on social media.

However, Meta denies it is trying to "suppress a particular community".

In an email to Malaysia's fact-checking alliance JomCheck, it said its policies are "designed to give everyone a voice while keeping people safe".

"The suggestion that we’re trying to suppress a particular community or point of view is categorically untrue.

"Our policies are designed to give everyone a voice while keeping people safe on our apps, and we apply these policies regardless of who is posting or their personal beliefs," a Meta spokesperson said.

No Hamas praise allowed

The spokesperson also referred to Meta's Oct 13 statement on its policies in the wake of the war in Israel and Palestine.

In that statement, Meta said it is taking measures to "address the harmful and potentially harmful content" on its platforms, related to the war.

However, it stressed that it would not allow "content containing praise for Hamas" because Hamas is designated by Meta as a "dangerous organisation".

"Violent and graphic content" are also not allowed on its platforms, it said.

Meta said that those who feel they were wrongly censored can put in an appeal and it will "look into it".

It added that the policies are equally implemented across the world.

In its statement, Meta also referred to the Oct 7 incident as a "Hamas terrorist attack", and the Israeli strikes on Gaza as "Israel's response".

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Gaza from ongoing Israeli strikes while 1,400 were killed in the Hamas attack in Israel. The casualties are overwhelmingly civilians, including children.

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