# Meta content moderation scrutiny regarding Palestine

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/meta-content-moderation-scrutiny-regarding-palestine
> Updated: 2026-09-09T12:29:07.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3.

Pro-Palestinian content creators and researchers continue to raise concerns regarding Meta’s content moderation practices on Facebook and Instagram. Journalist Faten Elwan, who has over 300,000 Instagram followers, reported that her account has been taken down eight times since the conflict in Gaza began in late 2023. Despite meeting with Meta representatives in May 2025, Elwan described their response as dismissive and noted that her content often fails to reach her audience unless they specifically search for her name, leaving her feeling like a “shadow on social media.”

A report by 7amleh and the University of Utrecht, titled ‘The Platformicide of Palestine 2021–2025’, documented 3,520 confirmed cases of content restrictions affecting Palestinian users. The study identified issues including account suspensions, post removals, and limitations on live broadcasts. Researchers noted that only 32.5% of documented cases involved an identifiable policy violation. The report highlighted that Meta’s ‘Dangerous Organizations and Individuals’ (DOI) policy was responsible for 57.2% of restrictions, a figure that increased to 71.1% when the affected individuals were journalists.

Further analysis by 7amleh suggests that Meta’s moderation system utilizes overbroad policy applications that may sweep up legitimate speech, such as journalistic reporting, under the guise of removing terrorist content. Research led by Fabio Cristiano of Utrecht University indicates these practices are descendants of legal and surveillance frameworks established during the War on Terror, originally designed to suppress organizations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which now influence how political discourse is managed on major platforms.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Meta content moderation linked to War on Terror frameworks

A report finds Meta restricted Palestinian-related content over 3,500 times between 2021 and 2025, citing overbroad moderation policies rooted in post-9/11 counterterrorism frameworks.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meta-content-moderation-linked-to-war-on-terror-frameworks

### 2026-08-14: Meta platforms face scrutiny over Palestinian content restrictions

A study by 7amleh and the University of Utrecht documents 3,520 cases of Palestinian content restrictions on Meta platforms, citing structural visibility issues and DOI policy impacts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meta-platforms-face-scrutiny-over-palestinian-content-restrictions

### 2026-08-12: Meta accused of shadow-banning Palestinian activists

Palestinian journalists and activists are accusing Meta of shadow-banning pro-Palestine content, significantly reducing the reach of accounts documenting the situation in Gaza.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meta-accused-of-shadow-banning-palestinian-activists

---
Cite as: Meta content moderation scrutiny regarding Palestine. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/meta-content-moderation-scrutiny-regarding-palestine