After Meta’s decision in January to remove its fact-checking system on Facebook and Instagram, many people sounded the alarm. The Command Center released an analysis outlining how the new policy could amplify hate on the platforms. Shortly after Meta’s announcement, leaked training materials surfaced that revealed examples of derogatory statements that will now be permitted on its platforms.
The leaked documents, obtained by The Intercept, have not been disputed by Meta and include examples of permitted posts such as “Jews are flat out greedier than Christians” and “Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of s**t.” Other hateful statements about Jews and other groups remain prohibited under the new policy. Phrases such as “Jewish women are sl***y” are banned under guidelines addressing “insults about sexual immorality.” The apparent inconsistency in the rules have left many struggling to understand why certain posts are allowed while others are not. Meta recently faced scrutiny in the British Parliament, where lawmakers questioned the company on its approach to misinformation and harmful content.
These failures are resulting in increased online use of anti-Jewish tropes. The FCAS Command Center analyzed posts on X from the last four years that expressed hateful Jewish tropes. Our analysis found a sharp increase in such content after X drastically reduced content moderation at the end of 2022. At that time, tweets including tropes about but not limited to discussion of Jewish control, power, and greed surged—clearly falling under hate speech. This trend has continued unchecked.
Volume of Posts Discussing Jewish Tropes on X
Now, with Meta following X’s lead in rolling back moderation efforts, a similar escalation is likely, and given the recent leaked materials, it is clear that posts involving hateful tropes will rise—arguably an even clearer picture than we had when X first reduced its moderation.
