A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism claims that Meta’s shift in its content moderation policy has led to a surge of anti-Semitic, white supremacist, and terrorist propaganda on Instagram.
The analysis, titled “How Meta Content Moderation Changes the Risk of Instagram Becoming a Hate Hub,” reveals that Instagram has removed only about 7% of the extremist and hateful content flagged by researchers.
Various civil rights and Jewish advocacy organizations describe this inadequate oversight as a “systemic failure” in securing user safety on a massive social media platform.
The ADL team identified 253 instances of violent material through Instagram’s standard reporting system, with targets including 150 accounts and 103 posts linked to white supremacist groups, propaganda from designated terrorist organizations, and sellers of Nazi merchandise.
Despite these findings, Instagram reportedly deleted just 11 accounts and eight posts, maintaining a strikingly high non-deletion rate of 93%.
In fact, the ADL noted that Instagram acknowledged it couldn’t review reports in 20 cases.
“Instagram has evolved into a hub of hate and anti-Semitism, and our research proves that,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. He emphasized the need for Meta to reverse course to prevent further normalization of such dangerous ideologies.
Notably, the report highlighted that:
- Nick Fuentes, an influencer banned since 2021, has built a secretive network of 105 accounts, amassing 1.4 million followers. One pro-Hitler video even gained 2.7 million views and 172,000 likes.
- At least 23 accounts promoted ISIS and al-Qaeda, while 33 were linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and one account was raising funds for terrorist organizations.
- One seller of extremist merchandise generated 3.2 million views for Nazi-themed apparel, managing to rebuild their account after being flagged.
The ADL urged Meta to restore stricter content moderation practices, review all user reports, and grant access to valuable data for researchers.
Furthermore, the organization called for Meta to collaborate with experts on hate and extremism to better filter out harmful content.
Meta previously relaxed its content policies after CEO Mark Zuckerberg remarked that Facebook had engaged in “excessive censorship,” partly linked to Donald Trump’s return to the platform.
Additionally, Meta faced negative attention due to recent court rulings that found it liable for failures in protecting children, which may lead to more legal challenges.
In response to the ADL’s findings, Meta defended its policies, stating they do not endorse hate or allow it to spread. The company claimed that over two-thirds of the flagged accounts and posts were removed prior to the report’s release, with some not breaching their guidelines.
Meta highlighted that content glorifying individuals like Nick Fuentes or associated groups is prohibited and will be deleted when discovered. They affirmed their commitment to removing posts that contravene policies regarding terrorism and hate while maintaining that their bans on Nazi imagery and Holocaust denial remain in effect.
Overall, they acknowledge that their platform can foster contentious dialogue, admitting some groups have found new ways to evade detection. They continue to adjust their policies and enforcement practices accordingly.
