Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has introduced a ban on the upside-down red triangle emoji, which it now associates with support for Hamas and the promotion of activities related to the group. This policy, outlined in internal documents obtained by The Intercept, applies to all users but is primarily enforced on posts flagged internally.
The policy applies to all users but is enforced primarily in cases flagged internally. Posts containing the emoji may be removed, and users could face further disciplinary actions, depending on the severity of the perceived violation, the report said.
Critics like Evelyn Douek from Stanford Law School have highlighted that the policy could infringe on free speech and complicate efforts to engage in important discussions about human rights and resistance. “It could lead to the removal of benign references to Hamas without necessarily glorifying the group,” Douek said.
Marwa Fatafta, a policy adviser with Access Now, told The Intercept that such bans can infringe on free speech and warned that Meta’s systems may struggle to differentiate between various uses of the emoji.
The prohibition has not been publicly announced by Meta and adds to the scrutiny surrounding its content moderation practices, especially amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, where significant civilian casualties have been reported.
The red triangle emoji has recently been adopted as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, and the crackdown on its use has sparked fears that it may hinder important conversations about social justice and human rights.
