The Oversight Board overseeing "Meta," the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has called for an end to the blanket ban on content that includes the word "martyr," affirming that the ban has become "unnecessary and restricts freedom of expression." This statement came in response to the company's request about whether it should continue removing content that uses the word "martyr" under its policy regarding dangerous organizations and individuals.
The Board noted that "Meta's approach to managing content relating to the use of the term martyr, which associates its usage with individuals defined as dangerous, is not aligned with freedom of expression." The board urged the company to "end its blanket ban on the usage of the word martyr and amend its policy to conduct a more context-appropriate analysis of the content that includes the word."
It explained that "the word martyr is also used to refer to individuals who die while serving their country, or for their cause, or victims of social and political violence or natural tragedies, and, in some Islamic communities, the word is used as a name and title."
Moreover, it added that "there is a strong reason to believe that the multiple meanings of the word martyr lead to the removal of a substantial amount of content that is not intended to praise terrorists or their violent acts." Meta is expected to review the board's recommendations and publish its decision within 60 days.
In its response, "Meta" stated: "We want people to be able to use our platforms to share their opinions, and we have policy rules to help them do so safely. We strive to implement our policies fairly, but doing so at a certain scale involves global challenges. That is why we sought the Oversight Board's guidance in February 2023 on how to refer to the word martyr in the context of prohibited people or organizations. We will consider the Oversight Board's comments."
