Meta has removed the TRT Arabi documentary titled “Journalism Under Genocide,” which exposes Israeli military attacks on journalists, sparking controversy over the company’s content policies. The documentary, produced by TRT Arabi, was taken down from Facebook, owned by Meta, with the platform citing that it promotes dangerous individuals and organizations.
Aired on August 30, “Journalism Under Genocide” explores the risks faced by journalists covering the Israeli conflict in Gaza and southern Lebanon. The film details systematic attacks against journalists since October 7, including targeted killings and assaults on media teams from TRT Arabi, Al Jazeera, Reuters, and AFP.
Director Khaldoun Fahmawi highlighted the dangerous conditions under which the documentary was produced, emphasizing the specific targeting of journalists and their families. The film includes the story of Mustafa Sawaf, a journalist whose family suffered a massacre, including the targeting of his sons, Marwan and Montaser, by a drone.
Ismail Al-Thawabteh, Director General of the Government Media Office, reported that 172 journalists were killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks and noted that 36 journalists were detained, with only four released so far.
Despite documenting the severe threats faced by journalists, Meta’s Facebook platform labeled the documentary as promoting dangerous individuals and organizations, leading to its removal. The platform’s explanation stated that the content violated their community standards on dangerous individuals and organizations.
(31/08/2023) We have removed your video.
Reasons for this:
It appears that you shared or distributed symbols or content that expresses praise or support for individuals and organizations that we consider dangerous or that you follow.
TRT Arabi 31/08/2023: “Journalism Under Genocide” — A new documentary on TRT Arabi highlighting the suffering of journalists amidst war.
You shared this content on your profile.
This account violates our community standards regarding dangerous individuals and organizations.
These actions have led to accusations of double standards, particularly concerning Palestinian suffering due to Israeli occupation and assaults.
Since the onset of the Israeli conflict with Gaza in October, Meta has enforced strict restrictions on Palestinian content, removing much of it and drawing criticism from Palestinians and their supporters.
In contrast, Meta has recently stated that the term “martyr” will be considered neutral under certain conditions, permitting its use on Facebook and Instagram without automatic content removal.
Additionally, in July, Meta announced it would delete posts containing the term “Zionist,” labeling it as hate speech. This decision followed extensive consultations on the use and implications of the term “Zionist” across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
