Meta Oversight Board rules ‘from the river to the sea’ not hate speech – Washington Examiner
The Meta Oversight Board has ruled that the phrase “from the river to the sea” is not classified as hate speech and may be utilized on Meta’s platforms, such as Facebook. This decision comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where the phrase has often been used as a rallying cry associated with Hamas, prompting debates over its implications and meanings. The board assessed multiple posts employing the phrase and concluded that it carries diverse interpretations among different user groups. They acknowledged that while some interpretations can be perceived as inciting violence against Jews and Israelis, the phrase lacks a singular meaning and context is critical in its application. Therefore, an outright ban on the phrase was rejected, emphasizing the need for contextual moderation rather than broad prohibitions.
For more detailed information, refer to the articles linked:
– [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/sep/04/metas-moderation-board-backs-decision-to-allow-from-the-river-to-the-sea-in-posts)
– [FIRE](https://www.thefire.org/news/metas-oversight-board-rightly-rejects-outright-ban-phrase-river-sea)
– [TechXplore](https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-meta-oversight-board-river-sea.html).
Meta Oversight Board rules ‘from the river to the sea’ not hate speech
An independent oversight board for Meta determined the phrase “from the river to the sea” is not hate speech and can be posted on the social media platform.
The board reviewed three posts that included the phrase, which has been a rallying cry for Hamas to incite violence and destruction upon Jews and Israelis.
The phrase “has multiple meanings,” and there are “a variety of people using the phrase in different ways,” the board concluded.
“While it can be understood by some as encouraging and legitimizing antisemitism and the violent elimination of Israel and its people, it is also often used as a political call for solidarity, equal rights, and self-determination of the Palestinian people and to end the war in Gaza,” the board said.
According to the board, the posts that used the phrase did not attack Jewish or Israeli people and were not in violation of Meta’s rules of inciting violence or praising “dangerous” organizations and individuals.
“Because the phrase does not have a single meaning, a blanket ban on content that includes the phrase, a default rule toward removal of such content, or even using it as a signal to trigger enforcement or review, would hinder protected political speech in unacceptable ways,” the board said.
Users previously reported that the posts violated the company’s community standards. However, Meta ruled they did not. Users then appealed to the board.
The decision comes just a couple of months after Meta cracked down on people targeting “Zionists,” viewing it as a loophole for spreading antisemitic posts about Jewish people.
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