02/09/2024

Inside Meta, a Debate over When the Word ‘Zionist’ is Hate Speech

Meta could start flagging more uses of the term ‘Zionist’ as antisemitic

Meta is debating whether to more aggressively remove some social media posts containing the words "Zionist" to counter a surge of antisemitism online, setting up a potential clash over censorship during the Israel-Gaza war, according to people familiar with the private deliberations and internal guidance seen by The Washington Post.

The social media giant has told some civil society groups that it is considering expanding how it enforces its ban against hate speech to include more uses of the term, especially when it might appear as a hateful substitute for "Jews" or "Israelis," said the people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/09/meta-zionist-hate-speech/?

"Whether the culprit is a hardened antizionist or a White nationalist, the term 'Zionist' often is used as an ugly synonym for 'Jew,'" said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who added he had not been consulted on Meta's potential policy changes.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.