Israeli Meta manager pressures censorship of pro-Palestinian content
Israeli official Jordana Cutler, who serves as a link between Meta and the Israeli government, has come under scrutiny for allegedly censoring social media posts supportive of Palestine. Cutler, who previously held senior positions in the Israeli government, has been accused of flagging content that goes against Israel’s foreign policy for review on Meta’s platform.
According to leaked internal company correspondence obtained by “The Intercept,” Cutler targeted at least 4 posts from the group SJP, which supports Palestine and protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Cutler reportedly submitted these posts to Meta’s “Dangerous Persons and Organizations List” multiple times for censorship.
While the final decision on censorship lies with another department within Meta, experts have expressed concern over a high-ranking Meta official advocating for the restriction of content that opposes a country’s interests. It remains unclear whether Cutler’s attempts to censor the flagged content were successful, as Meta has declined to disclose whether the posts were ultimately removed.
Cutler’s close ties to the Israeli government have raised questions about Meta’s impartiality in content moderation. Having served as an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and working in various capacities within the Israeli government, Cutler has publicly stated that he represents both Meta and the Israeli government within the company.
Despite these allegations, Cutler has emphasized the importance of representing Israel’s interests on a global platform like Facebook. Celebrated by Israeli officials for bridging the gap between Israel and Facebook, Cutler has been involved in collaboration with Israeli cyber units and law enforcement agencies for content removal.
As the controversy surrounding Cutler’s actions continues to unfold, the role of social media platforms in the political landscape remains a topic of debate. The intersection of technology, government interests, and freedom of speech raises important questions about the responsibilities of companies like Meta in regulating online content.
