How Palestinian-Israeli conflict changed the way social media firms deal with content

Hostilities on the ground were mirrored by an escalation against Palestinian digital rights. (Middle East Eye)
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Updated 13 July 2021
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How Palestinian-Israeli conflict changed the way social media firms deal with content

  • Throughout May, 7amleh documented more than 700 cases of Palestinian digital rights violations on social media
  • Nadim Nashif, director of 7amleh, said that social media companies should be transparent about any removal requests received from governments

LONDON: In early May, the world witnessed an escalation in violence committed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against Palestinians, prompting a flood of thousands of posts on social media feeds around the globe.

Throughout the month, the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) documented more than 700 cases of Palestinian digital rights violations, of which 500 cases took place between May 6 and 19 alone.

The Israeli government-guided IDF carried out attacks on Gaza and Palestinians in various cities and was seen to forcibly displace Palestinians from neighborhoods in Jerusalem, most notably Sheikh Jarrah, and Silwan.

The intensification in hostilities, however, appeared to have been closely mirrored by a digital escalation against Palestinians and supporters on social media. Social media companies such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were accused of removing content that showcased Israeli aggression taking place in the country.

(The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media / 7amleh)

The center’s data showed that 50 percent of the violations took place on Instagram, where the platform removed both public posts and stories about Palestine as well as archived content which was either published in the past or was only accessible to the individual user.

(Instagram)

Nadim Nashif, director of 7amleh, told Arab News: “As the Israeli attacks on the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the entirety of the Palestinian population in Israel and the occupied territory intensified, people took to social media to document human rights violations.”

He also noted a dramatic increase in censorship of pro-Palestinian content.

7amleh also observed violations on Facebook – Instagram and WhatsApp’s parent company – that deleted and suspended the accounts of many journalists reporting on the violence from within the occupied territories.

The 7amleh digital rights incident report documented 179 cases of digital rights violations, including restricting accounts (37 percent), deleting content (31 percent), and the suspension of accounts (23 percent).

Violations included hiding specific hashtags, such as #Al_Aqsa, which was reportedly heading the trending page around May 7.

(Instagram)

Facebook, however, told Arab News that the violations were solely technical issues rather than political. A spokesperson said: “Several issues impacted people’s ability to share on our apps, including a technical bug that affected stories around the world, and an error that temporarily restricted content from being viewed on the Al-Aqsa Mosque hashtag page.

“While both issues were fixed quickly, they never should have happened in the first place. We’re so sorry to everyone who felt they couldn’t bring attention to important events, or who felt this was a deliberate suppression of their voice. This was never our intention – nor do we ever want to silence a particular community or point of view.”

In a recent webinar titled “Digital Occupation: The Implications of Media Moderation in Palestine,” 7amleh’s local advocacy manager, Mona Shtaya, claimed that Facebook and other social media platforms were not adapting to the Palestinian context.

Shtaya said that many posts that included the word Hamas, for example, were being deleted despite them criticizing the organization and not agreeing with it.

“There are specific words that have nothing to do with attacking Israel per se like Shahid/Martyr or Muqawamah/Resistance that are also being taken down,” she added.

On Facebook’s context-specific policies, the company spokesperson said the platform did not allow dangerous organizations to be featured on its social media apps and that any content that “praises, supports or represents these groups” was removed.

However, the platform reportedly, “allows people to reference dangerous organizations in news reporting, as part of neutral discussion, or to condemn them, but we need people to make this context clear for our reviewers.”

According to Nashif, censorship of Palestinian content was nothing new and 7amleh had been documenting violations against Palestinian digital rights since it was founded in 2013.

Palestine Legal, an organization dedicated to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of people in the US who speak out for Palestinian freedom, documented more than 1,700 incidents of censorship of Palestinian content in America between 2014 and last year.

Speaking at the same webinar on digital occupation, Ashraf Zeitoun, former head of public policy for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Netflix and Facebook, said: “The reason why people are currently witnessing this significant volume of content censorship and takedown is mainly because of the huge and unprecedented volume of content shared in support of the Palestinian cause on social media.

“The takedown of Palestinian content increased in late 2016 and has been growing since then – associated with the growth of Palestinian activists on social media platforms, especially on Facebook and Instagram.

“This alerted the Israeli government. This is when you see a systematic approach in trying to connect with the tech companies, understand their rules and guidelines, and try to lobby them to advocate for new restrictions and guidelines which will eventually censor Palestinian narratives.”

In 2017, YouTube removed thousands of videos that documented atrocities committed by the Syrian regime against civilians with the Google-owned video platform claiming that the videos were flagged by an automated system that was designed to identify extremist content.

However, some groups claimed the algorithms were prohibiting the videos to stop them being used as evidence in future war crimes prosecutions against the Syrian regime.

The Facebook spokesperson pointed out that during the recent conflict, the platform dedicated a whole team, including both Arabic and Hebrew speakers, to monitor the situation on the ground and remove harmful content.

However, while 7amleh found the efforts by social media to limit future violations of users’ digital rights were significant, it claimed such efforts did not go far enough.

Nashif said: “Social media companies must provide full transparency about the processes that go into the development of their content-moderation policies, as well as make these policies accessible for users in full detail.”

He added that social media companies should also be transparent about any removal requests received from governments and must continue to abide by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, “which guarantee that these companies and other businesses do not violate human rights and international law in their work.”


Sky News Arabia opens new headquarters, announces fresh programming

Updated 23 January 2025
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Sky News Arabia opens new headquarters, announces fresh programming

DUBAI: Sky News Arabia, part of media group IMI, has opened its new headquarters in the same building as the IMI HQ on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

The new HQ features advanced broadcasting studios fitted with the latest AI technologies, the company said.

Sky News Arabia has also launched a new programming grid covering politics, lifestyle, sports, business and entertainment.

The announcements come 12 years after the channel’s launch.

They mark a new chapter that “embodies our forward-thinking strategy to anticipate and exceed audience expectations by embracing cutting-edge technologies and delivering diverse, engaging programming that transcends borders, setting new benchmarks for excellence,” said Rani Raad, CEO of IMI and president and operating partner of Redbird IMI.

The company has been working over the past year to elevate “the way each of the media companies within our network engage with audiences, to ensure we continue to deliver content that truly resonates,” he added.

The new programming will include shows such as “Studio One” hosted by Fadila Souissi, which will highlight political and societal issues, and the “Emad Eldin Adib” show, which will focus on politics in the Arab world.

Sky News Arabia is also expanding its lineup of non-political shows. The “Al Sabah Show” will return, featuring segments on health, fashion, law, and celebrities. It will be hosted by Maha Abdullah, Ahmed Qassem, Hani Ziadeh, Christine Dagher and Lubna Mansour.

The show will extend to digital channels and social media platforms through 12 specifically tailored mini-segments.

“In an era of rapid change and information overload, we are committed to empowering our audience with the tools to navigate and discern credible news,” said Nadim Koteich, general manager of Sky News Arabia.

He added: “By providing transparent, engaging and diverse content across politics, economics, lifestyle and technology, we ensure that Sky News Arabia remains a credible source of information that meets the dynamic needs of our viewers.”


Benefits of AI economy must be equitably distributed, says UN tech envoy in Davos

Updated 23 January 2025
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Benefits of AI economy must be equitably distributed, says UN tech envoy in Davos

  • Amandeep Singh Gill seeks ‘global’ efforts to tackle digital divide
  • ‘We need to have a more collaborative and respectful approach’

DAVOS:The power of artificial intelligence and quantum computing must be harnessed to benefit nations across the world, not only developed economies, said Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN’s envoy on technology, on Thursday.

Speaking during a panel titled “From High-Performance Computing to High- Performance Problem Solving,” Gill said that countries in Africa, for example, hold less than 0.5 percent of graphic processing units worldwide.

Also participating in the discussion were Georges-Olivier Reymond, co-founder and CEO of PASQAL; Ana Paula Assis, senior vice president and chair IBM EMEA and Growth Markets; and Paul Alivisatos, president of the University of Chicago.

“My challenge is to convince policymakers who have limited resources to invest in the digital divide, data and AI and quantum development as well,” explained the envoy.

“There is a backlash against the neo-colonial situation, where the tech is developed in just a few geographies, and the rest of the world is takers of this tech. You can call it the sovereignty backlash … we need to have a more collaborative and respectful approach,” he added.

When asked by panel moderator Azeem Azhar, CEO of Exponential View, about the risk of uncertainty in the field of quantum computing, Gill said he sees an opportunity more than a risk.

“We are at an early stage in terms of the science and technology of developing things so different technologies might be used. A degree of uncertainty and diversity is important,” he added.

But the envoy emphasized the need to have a unified global force that would ensure everyone can participate in this area of technology.

“When we look at the global majority, not everyone will be able to use quantum computing, the cryptographic effort has to be global, it can’t be isolated,” he said.

Gill said the world is shifting toward quantum infrastructure in order to reduce energy consumption. According to the envoy, today’s AI systems consume a great deal of energy.

The UN deemed 2025 as the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.” This initiative aims to celebrate quantum mechanics and educate people on its impacts on technology, culture, and understanding of the world.


Al Jazeera says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters

Updated 23 January 2025
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Al Jazeera says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters

  • The Qatar-based news network reported that its reporter Mohammed Al-Atrash was arrested from his home

The Al Jazeera news network says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters after preventing him from covering an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank.
The Qatar-based news network reported Thursday that its reporter, Mohammed Al-Atrash, was arrested from his home.
It said Palestinian security forces had earlier prevented him from reporting on a large Israeli military operation in Jenin, an epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian violence in recent years. The Palestinian Authority launched its own crackdown on militants in the city late last year.
There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Authority.
Both Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority banned Al Jazeera last year. Israel accuses it of being a mouthpiece of Hamas over its coverage of the war in the Gaza Strip and says some of its reporters are also militants.
The pan-Arab broadcaster has rejected the allegations and accused both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of trying to silence critical coverage.
The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and cooperates with Israel on security matters. It is unpopular among Palestinians, with critics portraying it as a corrupt and authoritarian ally of Israel.


South Sudan orders temporary ban on social media over violence in neighboring Sudan

Updated 23 January 2025
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South Sudan orders temporary ban on social media over violence in neighboring Sudan

  • Many South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that purports to show killings by militia groups of South Sudanese in Gezira state

JUBA, South Sudan: South Sudanese authorities on Wednesday ordered telecoms to block access to social media for at least 30 days, citing concerns over the dissemination of graphic content relating to the ongoing violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan.
The temporary ban, which could be extended to up to 90 days, will come into force at midnight Thursday, according to a directive from the National Communication Authority, NCA, to telecom companies stressing that the measure was necessary to protect the public.
“This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the NCA said. “The contents depicted violate our local laws and pose a significant threat to public safety and mental health.”
Many South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that purports to show killings by militia groups of South Sudanese in Gezira state. South Sudanese authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Jan. 17 after a night of retaliatory violence during which shops owned by Sudanese traders were looted.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned “the brutal killings of South Sudanese nationals” in Sudan and urged restraint.
Civil war in Sudan has created a widening famine and the world’s largest displacement crisis. Fighting between forces loyal to rival military leaders exploded in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023 and has since spread to other areas.
The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the UN and rights groups.
 


‘Controlling technology does not bridge the divide,’ says e& chief at WEF

Updated 23 January 2025
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‘Controlling technology does not bridge the divide,’ says e& chief at WEF

  • Hatem Dowidar said that while poorer nations may lack the expertise and resources to build AI infrastructure, governance and data sovereignty could unlock opportunities for decentralizing such technologies
  • Brad Smith pointed to Microsoft’s $1 billion investment, in partnership with Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42, in establishing a data center in Kenya as an indication of decentralization efforts

LONDON: Controlling key technologies such as artificial intelligence does little to bridge the divide between richer and poorer nations, hindering the potential to benefit all, according to Hatem Dowidar, group chief executive officer of e&.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Dowidar highlighted the need for a shift in mindset among regulators to “close the divide rather than widen it.”

He said that the challenge lay less in countries lacking the expertise or resources to build AI infrastructure and more in governance and data sovereignty issues, which often required external handling.

“We do have a couple of cases now where agreements have been done that allow for data to be handled securely,” he said. “In other markets, there are a few lighthouse cases that allows this to happen, and actually some of the hyperscalers — Microsoft and AWS — are working on creating these ring-fenced sovereign clouds that can serve countries from another country while really preserving that integrity and sovereignty.”

Dowidar explained that while many countries lacked access to AI know-how and connectivity, the energy-intensive process of training AI models presented perhaps a more significant barrier.

“So there is a possibility where you can have these central areas, where we can serve the countries that don’t have the massive energy needed to teach the models, but then we need to relax the AI data sovereignty issues,” he said.

Participating in the panel, “AI: Lifting All Boats,” Brad Smith, vice-chair and president of Microsoft, discussed his company’s push toward a decentralized approach to AI development. He pointed to Microsoft’s $1 billion investment, in partnership with Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42, to establish a data center in Kenya as an example of such efforts.

“It is hard to spend a billion dollars to support 50 million people in Kenya alone, but we’re doing it,” he said. “But the real question is, can we grow that and can we reach Rwanda? We can, but only under one circumstance that you get Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda and Kenya and Ethiopia, that you get the East African Community to decide together that they will all use that data center.”

He called this type of development “a data zone, just like we have free trade zones that will get us halfway there.”

However, Smith emphasized that the private sector alone could not shoulder the burden of such investments. Local governments and international institutions were essential to “kickstart the demand” if regions such as East Africa were to bridge the divide and compete on the global stage.

The panelists also criticized the US for its protectionist approach, particularly the imposition of export controls on competitive nations such as China.

While acknowledging that American technology currently held a significant edge, they argued that these restrictive policies were fueling rival nations to “catch up in various ways, partly by driving them to develop more frugal and innovative models.”