As someone who believes in the power of diverse voices and perspectives, I am deeply concerned about the current practices by Meta (including Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, Snapchat and X. These platforms are censoring stories relating to the human rights of Palestinians, while they allow videos of Palestinians being humiliated and tortured to be posted and shared. This is not only a violation of our freedom of speech as granted under the 1st Amendment but also a significant hindrance to achieving equity in sharing narratives.

Media outlets have long been accused of bias and one-sided reporting. The advent of social media was supposed to democratize this space by allowing all people - regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religion - to share their stories from their own perspectives. However, it appears that these platforms are perpetuating the same biases we hoped they would eliminate.

According to a report by 7amleh - The Arab Center for Social Media Advancement (2020), there has been an increase in digital rights violations against Palestinians on social media platforms such as Facebook, and in particular as it relates to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and assaults in the West Bank. It's clear that these actions silence important narratives about human rights abuses.

The right to free speech is enshrined in our constitution for a reason; it allows us all access to diverse viewpoints which can foster understanding amongst different communities. By censoring these stories from Palestinian voices on their platforms, Meta (Facebook & Instagram), TikTok and Snapchat are undermining this fundamental right.

We urge these companies not just respect but actively uphold our constitutional rights while ensuring fair representation for all users on their platform – including those advocating for Palestinian human rights. Please sign this petition if you believe in freedom of speech and equality across all media channels.