Meta Oversight Board Advises Against Automatic Removal of Pro-Palestinian Phrase

Meta Platforms’ Oversight Board has recommended that the company refrain from automatically removing the phrase “From the river to the sea,” which is often used in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The phrase, referring to the area between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, has sparked controversy, with critics deeming it antisemitic and supportive of Israel’s destruction, while others see it as a call for Palestinian solidarity.

The board, operating independently but funded by Meta, concluded that the phrase has multiple interpretations and should not be automatically considered harmful. “Context is crucial,” said Oversight Board co-chair Pamela San Martin, emphasizing the importance of political debate, particularly during crises.

The decision comes after the board reviewed several cases where users posted the phrase on Facebook. Meta expressed openness to the board’s findings and acknowledged the complexity of global challenges related to its policies.

While free speech advocates, like Alex Abdo of Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, supported the decision, the Anti-Defamation League criticized it as “short-sighted,” arguing that the phrase can make Jewish and pro-Israel communities feel unsafe.

The board also urged Meta to enhance data access for journalists and researchers following the recent discontinuation of its misinformation-tracking tool, CrowdTangle.