Meta has lifted the ban on “shaheed,” which translates to “martyr” in English, after a comprehensive year-long review conducted by its oversight board to refine the company’s approach to content moderation varied meanings of the term that extends beyond any single context.
Meta’s review determined the ban on “shaheed” was excessively broad. The company, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has faced criticism for its content moderation practices in the Middle East for years.
A study Meta commissioned in 2021 revealed adverse human rights impacts on Palestinians and other Arabic-speaking users. Tensions increased after the conflicts between Israel and Hamas in October. Last year, Meta’s independently operated oversight board initiated a review after identifying “shaheed” as the word most frequently removed from Meta’s platforms.
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The review, completed in March, identified that Meta’s policies failed to consider the various meanings of “shaheed,” leading to unjustified content removals.
Meta responded by adjusting its approach to only remove the term “shaheed” when it accompanies content that violates its guidelines. This strategy balances effective content moderation while minimizing the impact on free expression.
The oversight board has approved these changes, recognizing them as a significant improvement in policy.
