New Research Documents Systematic Suppression of Palestinian Content on Facebook and Instagram

A landmark five-year investigation has documented what researchers are calling the systematic erasure of Palestinian digital life on two of the world's largest social media platforms. The study, published on June 9, 2026, by the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) in partnership with Dr. Fabio Cristiano of Utrecht University, analyzed 3,520 verified cases of digital rights violations submitted to 7amleh's Palestinian Observatory for Digital Rights Violations (7or) between January 2021 and December 2025 . Its findings have been covered by Al Jazeera, TRT World, and others, and reinforce earlier investigations by Human Rights Watch, the BBC, and a human rights review commissioned by Meta itself . The report introduces a new term — 'platformicide' — to describe what it calls a deliberate, systemic erasure of Palestinian digital existence on major social media platforms .

Enforcement Actions: Posts Removed, Accounts Suspended, Visibility Suppressed

The documented enforcement actions included 'removed posts, suspended accounts, blocked livestreams, and 'concealed restrictions' that reduced content visibility without removing it' . Critically, only 32.5% of the cases involved an identifiable violation of Meta's stated policies — meaning the vast majority of content was taken down or restricted without a clear policy basis . This suggests that enforcement was not driven by clear rule-breaking but by a broader pattern of targeting Palestinian and pro-Palestinian speech.

The Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) Policy as a Primary Tool

Meta relied heavily on its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) policy — originally designed to address terrorism content — to target Palestinian speech . The report found that the DOI policy was applied 'disproportionately and often inappropriately' to Palestinian users, including journalists, human rights defenders, and ordinary users sharing news or humanitarian content . This policy application effectively treated Palestinian voices as presumptively dangerous . According to the report, in cases where a reason for enforcement was provided, Meta's DOI policy accounted for 57.2% of restrictions. That share rose to 71.1% in cases involving journalists .

An Opaque Appeals System: Nearly 70% of Users Left in the Dark

Nearly 70% of affected users were not clearly informed what policy they had allegedly violated . When users did appeal, the vast majority received no meaningful response. The report documented that 'Meta left the overwhelming share of appeals unanswered', with users trapped in an opaque, automated system that provided no explanation or avenue for redress . The study cited 2,828 appeals submitted by 7amleh on behalf of affected users, with nearly half left unresolved . The report also documented 273 cases of 'platform gaslighting' — in which users were told their accounts were 'active and unrestricted' even as they continued to experience reduced visibility, declines in engagement, and content suppression .

The Concept of 'Platformicide'

Rather than isolated content removals, the study argues that Palestinian users face a 'structure of control' that integrates automated moderation, AI-powered surveillance, the DOI policy, cross-border political pressure, and even Israeli legislation to suppress Palestinian voices at scale . The report frames this as an existential threat to Palestinian digital rights, not merely a series of moderation errors . The report itself states that what Palestinians face is 'no longer limited to the removal of a post or the suspension of an account' but has 'evolved into a structure of control' . The uptick in digital violations was especially pronounced after October 7, 2023, amid the escalation in Gaza — 'precisely at a time when Palestinians needed platforms the most', as Dr. Cristiano noted .

Calls for Reform

The study calls on Meta to take the following actions:

• Overhaul its DOI policy to stop its misuse against Palestinian journalists and human rights defenders .
• Ensure transparency and due process, including clear violation notices and functioning appeal mechanisms that actually review cases .
• Commission independent human rights impact assessments and implement their recommendations .
• Adopt a comprehensive human rights framework that genuinely safeguards Palestinian speech and addresses systemic discrimination .
• Stop the disproportionate moderation of content related to Palestinian political expression, humanitarian reporting, and documentation of human rights violations .

The report's findings align with and reinforce earlier investigations by Human Rights Watch, the BBC, and a human rights review commissioned by Meta itself . Jalal Abukhater, Advocacy Manager at 7amleh, stated: 'The continued discriminatory practices by Meta against Palestinian content constitute a clear violation of international standards for freedom of expression. We call on Meta to take serious and urgent steps to reform its policies and ensure Palestinians' right to use digital platforms without suppression or discrimination' .