Meta Platforms has issued an apology after removing content from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook and Instagram accounts that related to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The posts, which were taken down last week, have since been restored following an explanation requested by Malaysia’s government.
The controversy began when Anwar Ibrahim shared a video expressing condolences for Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran. The Malaysian leader also posted on Instagram about the incident. Both posts were briefly removed by Meta, leading to accusations from Anwar of “cowardice” and claims that the social media platform was acting on behalf of the Israeli government.
In response to the removal, Anwar criticized Meta, accusing it of being complicit in suppressing voices critical of Israel and undermining the Palestinian cause. “Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime,” Anwar stated, as reported by state news agency Bernama.
Meta’s removal of the posts was accompanied by a notice labeling the content as related to “dangerous individuals and organizations.” This classification is part of Meta’s policy to restrict content associated with groups deemed dangerous, such as Hamas, which it designates as a “dangerous organization” under its content guidelines.
The Malaysian government, including Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, sought an explanation from Meta regarding the removal. The minister expressed uncertainty about whether the takedown was an automatic response or a result of a specific complaint. “We are looking for clarity on whether this was an operational error or a deliberate action,” Fadzil said.
In a follow-up statement, Meta apologized for the incident, attributing the removal of the content to an “operational error.” A Meta spokesperson confirmed that the posts had been restored with the appropriate newsworthy label. “We apologize for the mistake and have since corrected the issue by reinstating the content,” the spokesperson stated.
This incident is not the first time Malaysia has raised concerns about Meta’s content moderation practices. Previously, Malaysia had complained about the removal of content related to Anwar’s interactions with Hamas leaders, which was later reinstated following similar objections.
The Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office has condemned Meta’s actions, labeling them as discriminatory and an infringement on free expression. The office emphasized that while the government supports free speech, it also stands firm in its criticism of any actions that may appear to unjustly censor or suppress voices critical of certain geopolitical issues.
The restored posts now remain on Anwar’s social media accounts, and Meta’s apology aims to address the concerns raised by the Malaysian government while reaffirming its commitment to correcting operational mistakes.
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