Meta’s Israel policy chief, Jordana Cutler, is under scrutiny for advocating the censorship of pro-Palestinian content on Instagram belonging to groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace. Cutler, a former Israeli government official, flagged posts on Instagram promoting readings associated with US-designated terrorist groups like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and sought the removal of content deemed sympathetic to Palestinian resistance icons.
The Intercept’s report highlighted Cutler’s efforts to target SJP’s posts on social media, alleging ties to violent protests at the University of California-Los Angeles campus. Despite her lobbying, it remains unclear if any content was actually censored by Meta. Cutler, who joined Meta in 2016 after working for the Israeli government, acts as a liaison between the tech giant and Israeli authorities, echoing Israel’s perspectives within the company.
While Cutler’s role raises questions about the influence of Israeli government officials on social media moderation, Meta has not responded to inquiries regarding the report. The incident underscores ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges of content moderation in the digital age.