Meta is reviewing the use of the word 'Zionist' amid the Israel-Hamas war in an attempt to control cases of anti-Semitism

Meta on Friday confirmed it is assessing when the word "Zionist" should be deemed hate speech as online anti-Semitism escalates amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The founder of Facebook and Instagram has acknowledged a report from The Washington Post indicating that they are considering broadening their ban on hate speech to encompass additional uses of certain terms, particularly when they seem to be used negatively in place of "Jews" or "Israelis."

"Given the increase in polarized public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it's important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term Zionist," a Meta spokesperson said in response to an AFP query.

"While the term Zionist often refers to a person's ideology, which is not a protected characteristic, it can also be used to refer to Jewish or Israeli people."

Meta's policy prohibits attacks on individuals based on their religion or nationality, posing the challenge of discerning whether the term "Zionist" refers to an ideology or a specific group of people.

Meta is refining its application of the hate speech ban to posts containing that word, as stated by the company.

Amnesty International researcher and advisor Alia Al Ghussain emphasized the importance for the Silicon Valley-based social media giant to ensure that content policies do not unfairly target pro-Palestinian voices expressing opposition to the conflict.

A blanket ban on criticism of "Zionism" or "Zionists" on Meta platforms would restrict free speech of those trying to call attention to "atrocity crimes committed by Israeli forces in Gaza," Al Ghussain said in a statement.

"This proposed revision is especially disturbing given the current dire situation in the Gaza Strip," Al Ghussain said of Meta's internal review.