The Meta Oversight Board has recently made a significant recommendation, urging Meta to reconsider its policy of banning the Arabic word “shaheed” on its platforms. The board, which operates independently and provides guidance on complex policy matters, conducted a year-long review and concluded that Meta’s approach was excessively broad and had unduly suppressed the speech of countless users.
The term “shaheed” has consistently been flagged and removed more frequently than any other word or phrase on Meta’s platforms, including popular platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This prompted the board to advocate for a more nuanced approach. According to the board’s report, the social media giant should only remove posts containing the word “shaheed” if they are directly associated with explicit signs of violence or if they violate other Meta rules independently.
The board emphasized that Meta’s current policy restricts free speech and impedes public discourse due to its overly encompassing nature. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, co-chair of the Oversight Board, underlined that “shaheed” holds deeper and broader linguistic meanings beyond its English translation as “martyr.”
The board acknowledged that while the term “shaheed” can occasionally be linked to glorifying violent acts, it is also used in neutral contexts such as news reports, academic discussions, and human rights dialogues. The board deemed Meta’s existing policies against incitement of violence and support for designated terrorists sufficient to address the risks associated with terrorist activities on the platforms. Thus, the board called on Meta to adopt a more discerning moderation approach that avoids removing content that does not endorse terrorism or violence.
Meta’s objection to the term arises from its current practice of removing posts that use “shaheed” when referring to individuals listed as part of “dangerous organizations and individuals.” This list encompasses members of Islamist militant groups, drug cartels, and white supremacist organizations. Meta deems the use of the word as an act of praise for these entities, which it explicitly prohibits.
The board’s recommendations were sought by Meta last year, following the company’s internal reevaluation of its policy in 2020, which failed to reach a consensus. Meta’s content moderation practices, particularly regarding topics related to West Asia, have long been subject to criticism. During the Israel-Hamas hostilities in October, Meta faced allegations from rights groups of suppressing pro-Palestinian content on its platform.
In response to the Oversight Board’s latest recommendations, Meta has stated that it will carefully review the feedback received and provide a response within 60 days. The company aims to strike a balance between enabling users to express their views while ensuring safety. However, Meta acknowledges the global challenges involved in implementing these policies at scale.
