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Meta's oversight board on Wednesday said that it will be reviewing how it handles violent content on its platform through addressing two cases that involve the bombing of Al Shifa Hospital and hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
The cases mark the first time the independent panel will use its expedited process, in which a decision must be made within 30 days. The board said it believes the posts “could result in urgent real-world consequences”.
Meta has since lowered the threshold of its moderation systems to remove potentially harmful content, but the company has faced accusations that it unfairly stifles support for Palestine.
The oversight board said it saw a nearly three-fold increase in daily appeals marked by users related to the Middle East and North Africa since the outbreak of the conflict.
The first case under expedited review includes an Instagram video that shows the aftermath of a strike outside Al Shifa Hospital in which injured and dead children can be seen lying on the ground. An accompanying caption in Arabic and English says the hospital was attacked by the “usurping occupation” – a reference to Israel.
Meta restored the content with a warning screen after the board selected to review it.
Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for the missile that struck Al Shifa Hospital in early November.
The second case involved a Facebook video in which a woman seated on the back of a motorbike pleads with her kidnappers for her life as she is taken hostage. The caption urged people to watch the video to “gain a 'deeper understanding' of the horror that Israel woke up to on October 7, 2023”, the board said.
Meta says it initially took down the post because it violated rules on violence and incitement, and because it showed images of designated terror attacks on visible victims.
The company later reversed its decision as it responded to trends on how the kidnapping videos were shared and reported on.
In a statement, Meta said it would carry out the board's decision once it has been made in each case.
The view from The National
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
