CALIFORNIA: Meta, the tech giant that owns popular social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, has opted to lift its widespread prohibition on the term “shaheed” (martyr), which had unfairly resulted in the censorship of millions of users worldwide.
As per media report, The move follows Meta’s acceptance of its Oversight Board’s recommendation for major policy changes, after an extensive review found that the blanket ban might be censoring those discussing violence in conflict-hit areas like Gaza and Sudan.
Meta has acknowledged that the term “shaheed,” subjected to one of the most over-enforced blanket bans, has long been censored and removed by the company, which until now considered it a reference to “entities named in the Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) policy.”
No exceptions were made for reporting on, neutrally discussing, or condemning the term, resulting in millions of users, particularly from Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities, having their content unfairly removed, noted the Oversight Board.
The board emphasizes that the policy change is expected to have a “swift impact” on content removal.
However, it was assessed that the term has various meanings, many of which do not aim to praise, glorify, or approve violence, it added.
Welcoming the development, Oversight Board member Paolo Carozza said: “This change may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do and an important step to take. By vowing to adopt a more nuanced approach, this will better protect freedom of expression while also ensuring the most harmful material is still removed.”
