New judgment Regarding the use of the phrase “from river to sea”, it determined that this did not violate the platforms’ policies on hate speech, violence and incitement or dangerous organizations and individuals. The board also said in its decision that the three flagged cases using the phrase highlight the need for greater access to Facebook’s Content Library for qualified researchers, civil society groups and journalists who previously had access to CrowdTangle.
The ruling looked at three Facebook pieces of content that contained the phrase “from the river to the sea,” a phrase considered by many to be pro-Palestinian, referring to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. A rallying cry is a political charge with various interpretations and meanings. critics of the phrase as call it “a widespread anti-Semitic slogan in anti-Israel campaigns.” Others, such as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, whom the House condemned last year for using the phrase in statements about the Israel-Gaza war, called it “a call not for death, destruction or hatred, but for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence.” according to .
The board ruled that the speech was not “independent speech” calling for violence against a group of people, the exclusion of a particular group of people, or support for Hamas. The Board also said it is “vital” that users of Meta platforms evaluate the context surrounding the use of the phrase when evaluating their content.
“Because the phrase carries no single meaning, a blanket ban on content containing the phrase, a default rule for removing such content, or even using it as a signal to initiate enforcement or review would unacceptably impede protected political speech. ways”, the decision says.
The Board also expressed concerns about Meta’s decision to close in August called for increased transparency in its content investigations and the new system. CrowdStrike was a free research tool used by news outlets, researchers and other groups to study the spread of information on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Meta has replaced the data tool with the Meta Content Library, a more tightly controlled data verification system with stricter access rules. The Content Library restricts access to applicants who work with a “qualified academic institution or qualified research institution” related to a “non-commercial activity.” .
The review board recommended that Meta onboard qualified researchers, groups and journalists within three weeks of submitting an application. The board also recommended that Meta “ensure that the Content Library is a suitable replacement for CrowdTangle,” according to the decision.
