Meta Apologizes for Removing Malaysian Prime Minister’s Post About Haniyeh’s Assassination

Meta Platforms Inc. stated on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, that the removal of posts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook and Instagram, where he expressed condolences for the assassination of Hamas’s political bureau chief, was a mistake and issued an apology.

Ibrahim had accused Meta Platforms of cowardice after his Facebook post about Haniyeh’s assassination was deleted, marking the latest dispute between the Malaysian government and the company over prohibited content.

Meta clarified the reason for the post’s removal.

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the company regrets the “operational error” and added that the content has been restored with “the correct label indicating its newsworthiness.”

The American social media giant classifies Hamas as a “dangerous organization” and bans content praising the group. The company uses a combination of automated monitoring and human review to remove or label harmful content.

On July 31, Anwar posted on Facebook and Instagram a video showing him offering condolences for Haniyeh’s death during a phone call with a Hamas official. He also shared a photo from his last meeting with Haniyeh in Qatar in May, accompanied by a message of condolence.

Malaysia was upset over Meta’s removal of the Prime Minister’s post

Previously, Malaysia had lodged a complaint with Meta over the removal of content, including local media coverage of Anwar’s recent meeting with Haniyeh, which was later restored.

Anwar, who met Haniyeh in Qatar last May, stated that he has good relations with Hamas’s political leadership but no military connections.

Anwar wrote on his Facebook page, “Let this be a clear message to Meta… Stop this cowardice.”

On Monday, the Malaysian Minister of Communications and members of the Prime Minister’s Office met with Meta representatives to seek an explanation.

In a similar incident in May, Meta had restored posts by Anwar on Facebook regarding his meeting with Haniyeh, saying they were removed by mistake.

Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, is a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Anwar had posted a recorded video of a phone call with a Hamas leader to offer condolences for Haniyeh’s death, which was later removed.