The independent board overseeing content moderation of Facebook owner Meta is recommending the company relax its ban on the Arabic word 'shaheed.' The board argues that the blanket ban, intended to curb praise of violence, has led to widespread censorship of millions of Arabic-speaking and Muslim users. Meta currently removes 'shaheed' when referring to individuals it deems dangerous, but the Oversight Board believes this approach is overly broad and restricts freedom of expression.
The board suggests that Meta should only remove posts containing 'shaheed' when there are clear signs of violence, such as explicit calls to arms or glorification of known terrorists. The current policy, the board argues, hampers legitimate uses of the word, including news reporting and discussions about victims of violence.
