Instagram has issued an apology for the use of the word ‘terrorist’ on a Palestinian user’s profile. This incident highlights the importance of responsible content moderation and underscores the challenges platforms like Instagram face in distinguishing and addressing sensitive language. Instagram’s acknowledgment of the mistake and apology demonstrates its commitment to rectifying such errors and maintaining a respectful and unbiased online environment.
Use of ‘Terrorist’ on Palestinian Profile
An auto-translation error has resulted in the inclusion of the word ‘terrorist’ in the profiles of multiple Palestinians, prompting an apology from Instagram officials.
This issue was initially reported by the technology website 404 Media. The affected users’ profiles contained the term ‘Palestinian’ in English.
The translation of the phrase ‘Alhamdulillah’ alongside the Palestinian flag emoji is incorrectly rendered as ‘All praise be to Allah, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for freedom,’ as reported by The Guardian.
Read More : Instagram apologises for adding ‘terrorist’ to some Palestinian user profiles.
TikTok user Waitikingkhan shed light on the problem. Strangely, the term ‘terrorist’ was translated into a perplexing combination of words, leaving users in disbelief and shock. One comment aptly summarized the sentiment: “This is a joke! I can’t believe it, I’m shocked!”
Meta has faced allegations of censoring Palestinian posts, particularly during the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, a Meta spokesperson informed The Guardian that Instagram had addressed the issue following the release of a video highlighting the problem. As a result, the term now auto-translates into English as ‘Thank God.’ The spokesperson expressed their sincere apologies for the incident.
Fahad Ali, the Electronic Frontiers Secretary and a Palestinian residing in Sydney pointed out that Meta has not provided a clear explanation of how the incident occurred. He emphasized that the primary concern revolves around the origins of these digitally biased behaviors, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in such cases.
According to a former Facebook employee who spoke to The Guardian, the incident had caused considerable distress among many individuals. This reaction underscores the significant impact such incidents can have on users and the importance of addressing them effectively.
Meta has faced allegations of censoring Palestinian posts during the Israel-Hamas conflict. It has included practices such as shadow banning or content demotion for pro-Palestinian accounts. Shadow banning means that users can post content, but it may not be visible to others or may not appear in their feeds. These allegations have raised concerns about the visibility and reach of pro-Palestinian voices on Meta platforms.
In response to concerns about content during the Israel-Hamas conflict, Meta stated in a blog post that they have taken steps to “identify and prevent the spread of harmful content.” They also mentioned that there is no evidence of Meta silencing anyone’s voice. This statement indicates their efforts to manage content related to the conflict and to avoid any perception of suppressing voices.
The company has claimed that this week, a technical issue, specifically a bug, was responsible for Instagram Reels and Stories shared on users’ Stories not appearing as expected. Importantly, they emphasized that posts related to Israel and Gaza are not subject to any intentional restrictions. This clarification aims to address concerns about content visibility on their platform.
Concerns Mount as Palestinian Voices Face Targeting on Social Media
Ali’s perspective underscores the need for greater transparency from Meta regarding these issues. Many Palestinians have expressed concerns that their accounts are being targeted and closed, which has raised questions about the fairness and equity of content moderation on these platforms. Despite claims of normalcy, there is a perception that the voices of Palestinians are being suppressed, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues openly and fairly.
More Info : The Israel-Palestine Conflict: The War That Has No End.
