News and updates about Meta

Meta hails landmark legal win against spyware firm NSO Group

Meta celebrates major legal victory in case hailed as pivotal in fight for digital privacy. NSO: 'software plays essential function in combating terrorism. We will review ruling and consider appeal.'

Meta hails landmark legal win against spyware firm NSO Group

Mark Zuckerberg:

Facebook, Instagram moving 'back to our roots' on free speech

Meta CEO says fact-checkers and efforts to police online speech have made too many mistakes, will be replaced with X-style community notes as company embraces a more free-speech-friendly approach.

Facebook, Instagram moving 'back to our roots' on free speech

Meta’s Oversight Board is stacking the decks against Zionism

The reality is that in 2018 Meta – which owns Facebook and Instagram - handed over content decisions to an unelected Oversight Board that it cannot fire. Read on.

Meta’s Oversight Board is stacking the decks against Zionism

BBC's pro-Palestinian study

BBC claims that since the onset of the war, Facebook has limited the ability of Palestinian news outlets to reach their audience.

BBC's pro-Palestinian study

High-profile Israeli and Zionist social media accounts disabled

As of Saturday morning, multiple high profile Israeli and Zionist Instagram accounts have been disabled, including Duvdevan Israel, Duvdevan US, Betar US and Betar International.

High-profile Israeli and Zionist social media accounts disabled

Freedom of the press?

Facebook bans Arutz Sheva due to news reports

Arutz Sheva's English Facebook page was suspended after several posts reporting various events during the war were removed for 'hate speech.'

Facebook bans Arutz Sheva due to news reports

Meta Oversight Board:

'From the river to the sea' does not violate hate speech rules

The Meta Oversight Board has upheld Facebook's decision not to remove posts with the phrase, claiming it could have different meanings and does not necessarily call for the destruction of Israel.

'From the river to the sea' does not violate hate speech rules

Pro-Palestinian groups condemn Meta's 'censorship'

2 pro-Palestinian student groups at NYU, Columbia say Instagram removed their accounts.

Pro-Palestinian groups condemn Meta's 'censorship'

Meta announces:

End to restrictions on Trump's Instagram and Facebook accounts

Meta to roll back restrictions it placed on former President's Instagram and Facebook accounts, cites desire to ensure parity among presidential candidates leading up to the 2024 election.

End to restrictions on Trump's Instagram and Facebook accounts

US antisemitism envoy:

'Meta announcement on use of 'Zionist' is an important step'

Deborah Lipstadt, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, welcomes announcement by Facebook parent company that it will classify the use of the term “Zionist” as a euphemism for “Jew” as antisemitic and as Tier 1 hate speech.

'Meta announcement on use of 'Zionist' is an important step'

Meta to classify use of 'Zionist' in place of Jew as hate speech

Facebook parent company announces new policy to crack down on antisemitism masquerading as anti-Zionism on social media platform, drawing praise from Jewish organizations, antisemitism watchdogs.

Meta to classify use of 'Zionist' in place of Jew as hate speech

Meta's outrageous decision:

The word 'martyr' is permitted on Facebook and Instagram

Until now the company's policy has been to attribute the word ‘martyr’ to terrorist entities. The term is now considered neutral and content containing the word will not be removed.

The word 'martyr' is permitted on Facebook and Instagram

Due to the war in Gaza:

Meta weighing whether calling Israelis 'criminals' is hate speech

Meta asks for content moderation help with posts that say ‘all Israelis are criminals.’

Meta weighing whether calling Israelis 'criminals' is hate speech

Final decision?

Meta weighs whether popular anti-Israel phrase should be banned

Should ‘From the river to the sea’ be allowed on Facebook and Instagram? Meta’s Oversight Board is considering the question.

Meta weighs whether popular anti-Israel phrase should be banned

CAM slams Meta Oversight Board for call to end ban on “shaheed”

Combat Antisemitism Movement warns removal of ban on Arabic word for 'martyr' could lead to spread of glorification of murderers on Facebook.

CAM slams Meta Oversight Board for call to end ban on “shaheed”

Meta blocks Khamenei Facebook, Instagram accounts

Iranian Supreme Leader's social media accounts suspended 'for repeatedly violating Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy' after supporting Hamas and Houthi atacks.

Meta blocks Khamenei Facebook, Instagram accounts

Zuckerberg apologizes to bereaved families

Mark Zuckerberg gave a personal apology to families whose children had been harmed by social media during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting titled 'Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.'

Zuckerberg apologizes to bereaved families

What's in a name?

Whether called Facebook or Meta,Twitter or X, the same vile slander and incitement to violence pervades the social media giants. Opinion.

What's in a name?

Oversight panel:

Meta failing to catch Holocaust denial memes

Meta is failing to catch memes and innuendo promoting Holocaust denial, oversight panel concludes.

Meta failing to catch Holocaust denial memes

Oversight board:

Meta inappropriately removed content on Gaza war

Meta inappropriately removed content related to Israel-Hamas war, oversight board concludes.

Meta inappropriately removed content on Gaza war

Citing hacking attempt:

Meta locks several pro-Palestinian Arab accounts

Instagram and Facebook owner blocks several pro-accounts with millions of followers after detecting possible hacking attempt.

Meta locks several pro-Palestinian Arab accounts

Will we soon be paying to use social media?

TikTok plans to offer "ad-free" service for a monthly fee. Meta will also soon offer a monthly payment to users in Europe for removing ads.

Will we soon be paying to use social media?

Meta:

Independent board to examine handling of Holocaust-denying post

Meta’s handling of ‘SpongeBob’ Holocaust denial post is taken up by independent Oversight Board.

Independent board to examine handling of Holocaust-denying post

Threads to be available without an app

Mark Zuckerberg announces a new web version of Meta’s new social media platform will be rolling out over the next few days.

Threads to be available without an app

Twitter threatens legal action over Meta's new app

Twitter accuses Meta of unlawfully using Twitter’s trade secrets to develop its new app Threads.

Twitter threatens legal action over Meta's new app

Widespread malfunction in WhatsApp Web

Users have not been able to connect to the popular messaging app since last night.

Widespread malfunction in WhatsApp Web

Thousands of users report outage with Meta apps

Meta Platforms says it is aware of issues with its Ads Manager, its advertising tool that lets brands buy and create Facebook ads.

Thousands of users report outage with Meta apps

Meta faces $1.3 billion record EU fine

Facebook parent company fined historic amount for failing to abide by high court ruling on transferring EU users' data to the US.

Meta faces $1.3 billion record EU fine

Instagram users worldwide report outage

Several hours later, users were able to access the platform once again.

Instagram users worldwide report outage

Mark Zuckerberg wins gold at Brazilian jiujitsu tournament

Meta CEO gets into argument with referee at his first ever Brazilian jiujitsu tournament in California.

Mark Zuckerberg wins gold at Brazilian jiujitsu tournament

Meta may remove Arabic word for 'martyr' from content moderation

Proposal being pushed through by anti-Israel activists claims term linked to terrorism is part of 'legitimate political discourse.'

Meta may remove Arabic word for 'martyr' from content moderation

Meta to lay off another 10,000 workers

This is the second round of significant job cuts announced by the tech giant in four months.

Meta to lay off another 10,000 workers

Report:

Meta planning second round of layoffs this week

Sources say the owner of Facebook and Instagram will cut thousands of employees as soon as this week.

Meta planning second round of layoffs this week

'Nothing less than a scandal':

Lod Mayor Yair Revivo blocked from WhatsApp

Lod Mayor discovers he was blocked from using WhatsApp.

Lod Mayor Yair Revivo blocked from WhatsApp

Meta testing subscription service for Instagram and Facebook

Meta Verified, which will be launched this week, will let users verify their accounts using a government ID and get a blue badge.

Meta testing subscription service for Instagram and Facebook

Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts restored

Former president's accounts reinstated after two-year ban stemming from aftermath of Jan. 6 riot.

Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts restored

Two years later:

Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts to be reinstated

Meta announces Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts will be reinstated with “new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.”

Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts to be reinstated

Trump seeks to have his Facebook account restored

Former President's campaign petitions Meta, Facebook’s parent company, to unblock his account which was blocked after Jan. 6 riots.

Trump seeks to have his Facebook account restored

Meta preparing to announce whether it will reinstate Trump

Decision on whether to allow former President back on Facebook and Instagram expected to come later this month.

Meta preparing to announce whether it will reinstate Trump

Right-wing activist banned from WhatsApp messenger

Right-wing activist Baruch Marzel is unable to send and receive messages on the popular messaging app owned by Meta

Right-wing activist banned from WhatsApp messenger

Meta lays off 13 percent of its workforce

Mark Zuckerberg says these are "the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history" as he announces mass layoffs.

Meta lays off 13 percent of its workforce

Report:

Meta to lay off thousands of employees

Owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week, sources say.

Meta to lay off thousands of employees

Facebook to pay $37.5 million to users for privacy breaches

Facebook agrees to settlement to end class action suit that it violated the privacy of users who did not want to disclose their locations.

Facebook to pay $37.5 million to users for privacy breaches

This AI chatbot wants you to visit its synagogue

BlenderBot, Meta’s AI chatbot, really, really wants you to check out its synagogue.

This AI chatbot wants you to visit its synagogue

Shake up at Meta

Facebook COO stepping down

Sheryl Sandberg stepping down from her role as Chief Operating Officer at Meta, which runs Facebook.

Facebook COO stepping down

Russian court bans Facebook and Instagram

Moscow court bans Facebook and Instagram over “extremist activity” in a case against their parent company, Meta.

Russian court bans Facebook and Instagram

Meta cuts down on employee benefits

Meta workers who had grown used to free meals and laundry services will be sorely disappointed as the company returns to physical offices.

Meta cuts down on employee benefits

Russia blocks Facebook, cites 'discrimination'

Russia's announces Facebook ban in response to restrictions of access to Russian media.

Russia blocks Facebook, cites 'discrimination'

Facebook temporarily suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene

Move comes a day after Twitter permanently banned the Georgia congresswoman.

Facebook temporarily suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene

President Herzog and Meta seek to change online discourse

Among those joining the campaign: PM Bennett, Foreign Minister Lapid, Interior Minister Shaked, MKs Regev and Zohar, and others.

President Herzog and Meta seek to change online discourse