Instagram, the popular social media platform owned by Meta, recently suspended the account of Lubna Hamdan, a Dubai-based journalist and YouTube talk show host. The suspension came after Hamdan posted a link to an article she wrote for RT (formerly Russia Today), a Russian media holding, in her Instagram bio. Instagram informed Hamdan that the link violated its terms of service and demanded that it be removed for her account to be unblocked.
Screenshots shared by Hamdan on social media show Instagram notifying her that the link to RT’s website was the cause of the problem, stating, “this link is stopping you from accessing certain features.” Instagram’s terms of service prohibit links associated with spam, support or praise of terrorism, organized crime or hate groups, solicitation of sexual services, and sale of firearms and drugs. However, it did not provide an explanation for how a link to the RT website relates to any of these categories.
Hamdan expressed her frustrations on Twitter, stating that the app prevented her from posting stories, commenting, and engaging with content because of the link. She sarcastically criticized the situation, saying, “So much for American ‘democracy.’ So pathetic!” She eventually had to remove the link in order to regain access to her account.
Lubna Hamdan is known for producing and hosting her own YouTube business talk show called Greenback and previously worked as an editor for Arabian Business. The article she wrote for RT, which led to the suspension, focused on her experience visiting Moscow and living in Dubai and discussed both cities in the context of tourism.
This incident raises questions about the actions of Western social media platforms and internet giants concerning Russia. Many of these platforms swiftly complied with US and EU sanctions on Russia following the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. In February 2022, the EU banned all “Russian state media” after the military operation in Ukraine began. As a result, all of RT’s channels were included in the ban.
YouTube was quick to follow suit and apply the EU ban globally, even though it continued to operate in Russia. In November 2022, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, modified its rules on “violent speech” to allow calls for “death to Russians” in Western countries. In response, the Russian Justice Ministry added Meta to its list of extremist organizations.
While Moscow’s decision affected Facebook and Instagram, it did not affect the messaging platform WhatsApp due to its different legal category. In March 2023, Facebook banned the RT Arabic page, which had 17 million subscribers, without providing any explanation.
The incident involving Lubna Hamdan and her Instagram suspension highlights the ongoing tension between social media platforms and content creators when it comes to Russia-related content. The actions of these platforms raise concerns about the potential for stifling freedom of speech and limiting access to alternative perspectives. As social media continues to play a significant role in shaping public discourse, it is crucial to ensure that platforms operate fairly and transparently, without arbitrarily blocking individuals’ accounts or censoring certain viewpoints.
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