Meta Restricts Red Triangle Emoji over Hamas Association

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is restricting the use of the upside-down red triangle emoji, which has become associated with Hamas and broader Palestinian resistance. This move follows Hamas's use of the symbol in videos of attacks on the Israeli regime's military targets. Over time, the red triangle has become widely adopted online as a symbol of solidarity with Palestine.

Internal policy documents obtained by The Intercept claimed that Meta views the symbol as a proxy for support of Hamas. As part of its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy, Meta will remove posts containing the symbol if it is deemed to support or glorify the group. The enforcement of this policy applies primarily to cases flagged internally.

Meta has not publicly explained how often it restricts posts involving the symbol, nor has it responded to requests for comment. Digital rights advocates, like Marwa Fatafta of Access Now, have raised concerns over the fairness of the ban, criticizing its broad scope and potential impact on free expression.

Critics have pointed out the lack of transparency surrounding Meta's content moderation policies, particularly regarding the enforcement of its rules during the ongoing conflict. Concerns have also been raised about the platform's ability to distinguish between expressions of solidarity and support for Hamas.

Mayssoun Sukarieh, a lecturer at King’s College London, emphasized that symbols of resistance, like the red triangle, are born from movements opposing colonialism and occupation.

Hamas has long used an inverted red triangle to represent Israeli army targets that will be hit by resistance forces in all of its videos produced by the "Military Media" of the "Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades," Hamas' armed wing.