Eye on Palestine Instagram removal heightens censorship concerns
3 Min Read
Social media platform users continue to express their concerns over censorship of pro-Palestinian content.
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An undated image shows the Instagram logo on a phone. (AFP via Getty Images)
The prominent multilingual pro-Palestine Instagram account, Eye On Palestine, was suddenly suspended, leaving Instagram users frustrated and angry. This suspension sparked a wave of reactions on other social media platforms, such as X, with users expressing their concerns over censorship of pro-Palestinian content amid the ongoing genocide.
Jackson Hinkle, a well-known social media personality, expressed his disappointment over the significant ban, comparing it to the banning of Russian news at the start of the Ukraine war.
🚨🇵🇸 Zuckerberg’s Meta has BANNED the Instagram account “Eye on Palestine” with over 6 million followers!
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) October 25, 2023
🇷🇺 Reminds me of when they banned ALL RUSSIAN NEWS at the start of the Ukraine War! pic.twitter.com/2932KY9p7Q
Another X user stressed the extensive reach of the account, which had over 6 million followers, and stated that its removal was driven by the fear of the truth.
A different user underscored the gravity of the situation, noting that Instagram had removed both Eye on Palestine accounts, effectively erasing a significant part of the historical record.
As a matter of fact, Instagram has faced criticism in the past for similar actions against accounts and posts that support Palestine. The Al Mayadeen English account was shortly suspended on Instagram, one of Meta's social media platforms, on October 9. The account was later restored after filing an appeal, however, no reason was provided for the cause of the block and no prior notice was given either. It is worth noting that our coverage follows journalistic standards and displays no graphic content that could have violated guidelines. It is also not the first time that Meta has taken such measures, as they have also previously banned and blocked Pro-Palestine accounts.
Al Mayadeen English was not the only news network or outlet that was hit with a block or suspension by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta. Global outlet Red Stream was also suspended on Instagram and has not restored its account yet.
Meanwhile, the news website, Mondoweiss, which provides news and analyses for people taking action for Palestine as defined on its Twitter profile, confirmed that its TikTok account was "permanently banned". The reason it provided was the mere coverage of the events in Palestine. Mondoweiss slammed Meta's move as "an outrageous attack on press freedom," demanding that its account be reinstated.
@Instagram temporarily suspended @AlMayadenEnglish account on #Instagram to censor its reporting on what is happening in #Palestine. The account was restored after filing an appeal.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 9, 2023
Our account was suspended with no prior notice, nor were we informed of the true reason for the… pic.twitter.com/bFgBWpmy51
"Israel" and its supporters have sought on numerous occasions to remove opposing voices from mainstream media and social media platforms so that its horrific crimes go undocumented.
This update serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that advocates for Palestinian rights encounter in the digital realm. Eye On Palestine was well-known for its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, regularly sharing news and videos depicting the plight of Palestinians living under oppression.
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