Information about the eviction of Palestinians from an East Jerusalem neighbourhood was systematically removed from social media, say digital researchers who have collected evidence of the content takedowns.
Hundreds of posts and accounts documenting events in Sheikh Jarrah were deleted or restricted, the researchers said.
As violence escalated in Jerusalem at the weekend, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter were all accused of removing content or suspending accounts that shared information about the neighbourhood where Palestinian families are facing eviction from their homes.
Social media platforms have been dogged by issues with their moderation of content in non-English speaking conflict areas such as Palestine. As they tinker with their moderation systems, Palestinians are increasingly reporting that their digital rights are being violated by these platforms.
Instagram confirmed a system update resulted in a technical error that removed tens of millions of Stories, Highlights and Archives around the world, including in protest areas like East Jerusalem and Colombia.
"These errors result in infringing on people's rights, especially at critical moments where activists need social media tools to cover and document human rights abuses," Marwa Fatafta, the Middle East and North Africa policy manager at Access Now, told The National.
Instagram said the glitch was patched by Friday morning, but as violence in East Jerusalem was escalating, so were reports of content restrictions.
As Israeli forces stormed Islam's third-holiest site, Al Aqsa mosque, on Friday, the hashtags for the mosque were hidden on Instagram. The platform blocked content about Jerusalem just as Israeli forces stormed the mosque with stun grenades and rubber bullets, injuring 220 people, mostly Palestinians.
"We were made aware that the الاقصى# and الأقصى# hashtags were restricted in error," a spokesperson for Facebook, which own Instagram, told The National.
“This was unrelated to the technical issue, which affected Stories, Archives and Highlights. We sincerely apologise for both issues,” they said.
Beyond the admission that Stories and hashtags were affected, a litany of unusual social media behaviour surrounds content about Sheikh Jarrah.
Researchers have documented numerous restrictive behaviours experienced by users. They found that Twitter accounts were suspended, Facebook posts removed, graphic warning labels added to text-only posts on Instagram, and live-streams from Sheikh Jarrah blocked.
Nine digital rights organisations signed a statement saying the rapid escalation of content removal around Sheikh Jarrah was “egregious and pronounced”.
Having logged 200 examples of removed content, the Arab Centre for the Advancement of Social Media, known as 7amleh, contacted the various social media platforms and successfully pressured them to restore some of the content.
"Which means they did not really violate the community standards," Nadim Nashif, the executive director of 7amleh, told The National.
Palestine-based digital rights group Sada Social identified at least 50 Twitter accounts that shared information about Sheikh Jarrah and were suspended.
Twitter told The National it "took enforcement action on a number of accounts in error by an automated spam filter".
“We are expeditiously reversing this action to reinstate access to the affected accounts.”
Israel fuels social media takedowns
Meanwhile, Instagram confirmed to The National that no content was removed as a result of a government request.
The clarification is an important one, as Israel is known to run a cyber unit within its Ministry of Justice that systematically surveils Palestinian content and reports it to Facebook.
The number of content removal requests made by the Israeli cyber unit jumped from 2,241 in 2016, to 12,351 in 2017, to 14,283 in 2018 – an increase of 600 per cent over three years, reports from Israel’s state attorney’s office revealed.
Facebook complied with 90 per cent of the requests made by Israel. The targeted content was completely or partially removed, mostly for "identifying with a terrorist organisation" or "incitement offences", the state attorney’s report said.
“Israel already has enormous advantages politically, diplomatically, economically, and militarily. So the technological advantage only adds to the already massive asymmetry between the two sides,” said Khaled Elgindy, director of the Middle East Institute’s programme on Palestine.
It is increasingly common for Palestinians to see their social media posts disappear without explanation as Facebook has developed a number of policies that appear to disproportionately affect Palestinian content.
If the content is not removed at the behest of the Israeli government, it is likely the decision of artificial intelligence.
Moderating Arabic content without context
In 2017, Israeli police mistakenly arrested a Palestinian worker because an AI translation of his Facebook post mistook the words “good morning,” for “attack them” in Hebrew or “hurt them” in English. No Arabic speaker had reviewed the post before the arrest.
Social media companies rely heavily on moderation tools that use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, but these systems struggle to digest the Arabic language and understand delicate contexts.
“For the global south countries, content moderation is problematic because it’s pretty much built on the experience of Americans,” said Mr Nashif.
“When it comes to occupation or conflict areas, it becomes much more complicated.”
In Palestine, anyone killed by Israeli forces is referred to as a shaheed, a martyr in Arabic. Facebook has determined the word falls under the “dangerous individuals and organisations policy”, meaning posts mentioning shaheed can be easily removed.
“Shaheed is a common word, it's part of the Palestinian lexicon,” said Ms Fatafta.
“So how did Facebook interpret shaheed as a vile word, as a word that is glorifying terrorism?”
Social media platforms are tasked with moderating content they do not understand and they are not willing to understand, added Ms Fatafta.
"When they use automated decision-making tools that are absolutely blind to context, the result is mass censorship and takedown," she told The National.
“It's a disaster in the making.”
Palestinian news organisations face similar barriers when it comes to utilising social media platforms to report from the front lines of violent battles. Content is routinely removed for being too graphic.
In 2016, the Facebook accounts of four editors at the Palestinian Shehab News Agency and three journalists from Al Quds News Network were disabled for violating community standards. Soon after, they were reinstated.
“This is an internationally recognised conflict zone. And it's important for media outlets to cover the reality for what it is, but that content sometimes gets taken down,” said Ms Fatafta.
Preventing Palestinians from sharing their stories has a tremendous impact politically, Mr Elgindy said.
"It distorts the debate and prevents policymakers and the general public from understanding the realities of occupation and dispossession," he told The National.
As Palestinian users find it increasingly challenging to navigate restricted online spaces, another challenge may soon await them.
Facebook is debating whether to designate the word "Zionism" as a protected term. If passed, it would mean critical conversations using the term would fall within the rubric of hate speech and could be removed.
“There are so many ways Palestinian voices have been marginalised, excluded and distorted. The oldest and most common has been to associate Palestinian resistance to the Zionist project and expressions of support for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism. This has been going on for over a hundred years,” said Mr Elgindy.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
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How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
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