Meta Considers Restricting the Term “Zionist”

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has been reportedly reevaluating its “hate speech” policy, with a particular focus on the term “Zionist,” as confirmed by a January 30 email sent by Meta policy personnel to civil society groups. This switch in policy might significantly curb discussions centering on Israeli nationalism, also hindering criticisms and free speech about Gaza conflicts and other related issues. Predominantly used to label those supporting the existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East, the term “Zionist” has been used relatively freely on Meta’s platforms. At present, Meta’s internal policies mandate the removal of posts incorporating the term “Zionist” if it’s interpreted as a covert reference to “Jew” or “Israeli,” which are both safeguarded under its speech regulations. However, the impending modification in policy could empower moderators to apply this rule more aggressively, thereby leading to a notable surge in deletions of posts openly critical of elements of Israeli nationalism. “Given the increase in polarized public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it’s important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term Zionist,” a Meta spokesperson said in response to the AFP. Founder and executive director of CyberWell, Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor said: “CyberWell has identified several major narratives leveraged against ‘Zionists’ that are rooted in classic Jew-hatred including that they ‘purposefully’ target and kill children because of ‘who they are’…Meta Considers Restricting the Term “Zionist”