Meta Takes Action: Ayatollah Khamenei’s Social Media Accounts Removed for Policy Violations
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has taken a stance against Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by removing his Facebook and Instagram accounts. This decision stems from repeated violations of Meta’s content policies, particularly the Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy. While the company did not explicitly cite the Israel-Hamas conflict as the catalyst for this action, mounting pressure had been building on Meta since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
Throughout the conflict, Khamenei openly voiced support for Hamas’ violent actions, despite denying any Iranian involvement in the attacks. He also expressed solidarity with Palestinian retaliation against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Huthi rebels’ assaults on Red Sea shipping. With a substantial following of five million on Instagram, Khamenei had a significant platform to disseminate his viewpoints.
Meta’s decision to remove Khamenei’s accounts underscores its commitment to preventing real-world harm. The platform prohibits individuals or organizations associated with violence or advocating violent missions from maintaining a presence. The overarching goal is to mitigate the glorification, support, and representation of dangerous individuals and organizations.
It’s noteworthy that the United States designates Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization. Despite Instagram and Facebook being officially banned in Iran, Iranian users utilize virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions and access these platforms, along with other prohibited websites and apps.
Meta’s action against Khamenei sends a clear message about the platform’s stance on content policy violations, regardless of the individual’s status or influence. By enforcing these policies consistently, Meta aims to foster a safer and more responsible online community. However, the incident also highlights the ongoing challenges of regulating content in an interconnected digital landscape, particularly in regions where access to certain platforms is restricted but circumvented through technological means.
Author: DA
Source: Daily Telegraph
