Meta's Oversight Board Calls to Lift Ban on 'Shaheed' in Landmark Free Speech Ruling

Meta's oversight board has made a decisive move by advising the social media conglomerate to remove the ban on the term "shaheed," an Arabic word for "martyr." This development comes after Meta recognized the word as the most frequently removed term from its platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, under its current content moderation policies.

Meta, comprised of popular social media sites, established the independent oversight board in 2020 to act as a quasi-judicial body overseeing and reviewing controversial content removal decisions. The board's latest policy advisory criticizes the blanket ban, emphasizing that it unnecessarily infringes upon free speech. Meta's use of the term “shaheed” in association with its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals list—particularly regarding groups deemed to engage in "serious offline harm"—has been the main rationale behind the ban.

The advisory comes in the aftermath of significant backlash from human rights organizations and activists. Human Rights Watch, in a scathing December report, highlighted Meta's overreach and its adverse effects on Palestinian and Arabic speakers, alleging Meta's policies led to censoring legitimate discourse on the Israel-Palestine conflict. An internal review in 2021 echoed these concerns, stating the content moderation policies negatively impacted Palestinians' rights to convey their experiences.

Following a request from Meta itself, the oversight board undertook an analysis of whether to continue the removal of content containing the term "shaheed." As revealed by board member Nighat Dad, the group underwent a rigorous examination that included witnessing the term's usage during a recent conflict to inform their advisories.

The board's March 26 report ultimately determined that Meta's treatment of "shaheed" is excessively broad and runs counter to nuanced linguistic understanding, disregarding the term's complexity and multiple contexts. It stressed that the presumption of praise for individuals or groups on the DOI automatically leading to a ban has dire consequences for freedom of expression, media freedom, and civil discourse.

In response to the oversight board's findings, Meta has pledged to consider the recommendations and issue a statement within 60 days. While the board's policy suggestions are not legally binding, it possesses mechanisms to follow up on Meta's actions, ensuring serious deliberation of its guidance.