16-5-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Meta Platforms has reinstated Facebook posts from Malaysian media outlets covering Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent meeting with a Hamas leader, citing an error for their initial removal.
The posts, which detailed Anwar’s encounter with Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in Qatar on May 13, had sparked complaints from the Malaysian government. Malaysia, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, had warned Meta and other social media companies against blocking pro-Palestinian content, threatening firm action.
Anwar emphasized that his relationship with Hamas was political and not connected to the group’s military activities. The Malaysian government promptly addressed the issue, sending a letter to Meta to demand clarification regarding the removal of the posts by two media organisations and the suspension of a Facebook account belonging to Malaysia Gazette, which covers Palestinian issues.
“Two posts were removed in error and have now been restored,” a Meta spokesperson said in an email to Reuters.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil condemned the removal of the posts on May 15, accusing US organisations of not respecting media freedom. Following the government’s intervention, Malaysia Gazette reported that Facebook had reinstated its account.
Malaysia has consistently advocated for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meta, which classifies Hamas as a “dangerous organisation,” stated that it does not intentionally suppress any voices on its platform and denied claims of restricting pro-Palestinian content. Meta employs a combination of automated systems and human review to manage content, particularly that which praises designated dangerous organisations or contains graphic visuals.
