Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has lifted its ban on the word “shaheed” (martyr). The decision follows a year-long review by Meta’s oversight board, which concluded that the company’s previous approach was too broad and had a negative impact on Arabic-speaking users.Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has lifted its ban on the word “shaheed” (martyr). The decision follows a year-long review by Meta’s oversight board, which concluded that the company’s previous approach was too broad and had a negative impact on Arabic-speaking users. The term “shaheed” has multiple meanings and is typically used to refer to someone who has died for their religious beliefs or a cause. However, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it has also been used to describe terrorists who have carried out attacks against Israelis or Jews. Meta’s previous policy removed any content that contained the word “shaheed,” regardless of its context. This approach led to the removal of content that was not intended to praise violent acts, including content that mourned the deaths of Palestinian civilians. The oversight board’s review found that Meta’s policy was not effective at preventing the spread of harmful content and that it had a disproportionate impact on Arabic-speaking users. Meta has now acknowledged the board’s findings and has updated its policies to allow the use of the word “shaheed” in non-violent contexts. The lifting of the ban on “shaheed” is a welcome step by Meta. The company’s previous policy was too broad and had a negative impact on Arabic-speaking users. Meta’s new policy will allow users to express themselves more freely while still preventing the spread of harmful content.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Tuesday that it will lift its blanket ban on the word “shaheed” (martyr). The decision comes after a year-long review by its oversight board, which found the company’s approach to be “too broad,” according to Reuters.
The social media conglomerate has faced criticism over its handling of Middle Eastern content. A 2021 investigation conducted by Meta itself found that the approach had a “negative human rights impact” on Arabic-speaking users of its services.
The oversight board, which operates independently despite being funded by Meta, began its investigation last year. The word “shaheed” was responsible for more content removals on the company’s platforms than any other word or phrase.
The term has several meanings, and generally refers to someone who has died for their religious beliefs or a cause. However, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is used to describe terrorists who have carried out attacks against Israelis or Jews.
In March, the investigation concluded that Meta’s rules on “shaheed” failed to take into account the word’s multiple meanings, leading to the removal of content that was not intended to praise violent acts.
Meta acknowledged the study’s findings on Tuesday, saying its tests showed that removing content where “shaheed” “is paired with otherwise infringing content catches the most potentially harmful content without disproportionately impacting voice.”
