Ask AI or just Google it? Google makes a big change to a little search box
Google's major update: AI-generated answers for searches in the U.S.
NPR Topics: News1 min read
Instagram, X and others blocking Saudi dissidents’ accounts
TL;DR
Major US social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, have blocked accounts of Saudi dissidents following orders from Saudi authorities. Activists Abdullah Alaoudh and Omar Abdulaziz are among those affected, raising concerns about censorship and repression.
Key points
- Major US social media companies blocked accounts of Saudi dissidents
- Affected activists include Abdullah Alaoudh and Omar Abdulaziz
- At least seven accounts were blocked by Meta at the end of April
- Meta claims to restrict content based on local law violations
- Concerns raised about censorship and repression
Mentioned in this story
Abdullah AlaoudhOmar AbdulazizMetaAmerican Committee for Middle East Rights
Major US social media companies including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms have blocked the accounts of Saudi Arabian dissidents so they are no longer visible inside the kingdom, following orders by Saudi authorities.
Those affected include Abdullah Alaoudh, a US-based activist and vocal critic of Saudi human rights violations, and Omar Abdulaziz, a Canada and UK-based activist who worked closely with Jamal Khashoggi before the journalist’s murder by Saudi agents in 2018.
At least seven accounts had been blocked by Meta at the end of April, including those of two American citizens and two individuals based in Europe, according to the advocacy group American Committee for Middle East Rights (ACMER).
Alaoudh, who serves as ACMER’s senior policy advisor, said: “Meta is effectively doing Saudi Arabia’s dirty work against Americans living in the United States. When a company geo-blocks accounts on behalf of a government with a documented record of silencing dissent, it becomes an instrument of repression. Meta should push back.”
Meta did not respond to the “dirty work” claim, but provided a statetment to the Guardian saying that when “something happens” on one of its platforms that is reported as violating local law but not the companies’ own community standards, the company may restrict the content’s availability in the country where it is alleged to be unlawful.
It added that “in a majority of cases” it informs affected users which state authorities sent the requests.
Meta operates a public “transparency center”, where it acknowledges that Saudi authorities contacted the company and sought restrictions on a total of 144 Instagram accounts, Facebook pages, and Facebook profiles during April. The site also shows that Meta restricted access to 108 “items”.
Interviews with some of the dissidents targeted suggest the companies approached by Saudi authorities did not all respond in the same way.
While Meta did alert users that their content was being blocked due to a “local legal requirement, or a request from a government”, Snapchat appears to have slowed or removed accounts in Saudi Arabia – including one used by Abdulaziz – without alerting the account owners of the change.
It is not clear how many Snapchat accounts were affected, and its owner, Snap Inc, declined to comment.
Q&A
Why are Instagram and Facebook blocking Saudi dissidents' accounts?
Instagram and Facebook are blocking accounts of Saudi dissidents due to orders from Saudi authorities, citing local laws.
Who are the Saudi dissidents affected by the account blocks?
The affected dissidents include Abdullah Alaoudh and Omar Abdulaziz, both known for their criticism of Saudi human rights violations.
What has been the response from Meta regarding the account blocks?
Meta stated that it may restrict content availability in countries where it is reported as violating local law, but did not address allegations of acting as an instrument of repression.
What implications does blocking dissidents' accounts have for free speech?
Blocking dissidents' accounts raises significant concerns about censorship, repression, and the role of social media companies in upholding free speech.
