RAMALLAH, January 29, 2025 (WAFA - 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media released its annual report, "Hashtag Palestine 2024," which highlights the repercussions of the Israeli war on Gaza, which lasted over 15 months, and the systematic violations of Palestinian digital rights.
The report reveals how Israel utilized digital tools, including the weaponization of artificial intelligence, as part of its war strategy, leading to the shrinking of Palestinian digital spaces and entrenching an already unjust reality.
The report examined the role played by media platforms, such as Meta, in restricting Palestinian content, deleting it, or limiting its visibility. This has further silenced Palestinian voices and enabled the Israeli narrative to dominate the digital scene, particularly during wars and major crises. Meanwhile, and as this report highlights, different social media platforms, especially Telegram, X, and Meta, allowed for the unrestrained dissemination of violent and hateful speech against Palestinians on a large scale.
The report addressed the contribution of the Israeli authorities to the restriction of digital rights, through their action and practices on the ground, like phone and social media inspections at Israeli military checkpoints, and the enhancement of surveillance systems, like facial recognition security cameras in Palestinian cities and neighborhoods, and punitive laws like the "Computer Data Intrusion" law.
The report also showed the Israeli authorities' misuse of technology to further enhance their control over Palestinians by weaponizing AI tools. These tools are used to develop techniques and technological systems based on artificial intelligence, not only to collect personal data and violate individual privacy but also to achieve military goals.
These tools like "Lavender" and "Habsora", are promoted as security and crime-control systems, and are used for killing Palestinians, targeting civilians without real human intervention, reflecting the systemic discrimination practiced against them, said 7amleh.
Concerning infrastructures, the report pointed out the massive damage to internet and communication infrastructure in Gaza, as 75% of this infrastructure was partially or completely destroyed, in addition to the frequent complete or partial internet outages, and the strict limitations on internet services.
The report also pointed out the role of digital economy platforms, like PayPal and Go Fund Me in restricting the transfer of financial aid to organizations and individuals in the Gaza Strip, due to strict censorship measures and removal of accounts associated with the Gaza Strip, thus hindering the rapid arrival of financial aid, considering the urgent need for this aid, as a result of the war that caused an unprecedented human crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The report called on the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate actions that guarantee the accountability of prominent technology institutions regarding their contribution to the violations of Palestinian digital rights.
It also emphasized that these institutions should adhere to international human rights standards and conduct independent and transparent evaluations of their policies' impact on the digital rights of Palestinians.
T.R.
