"Briefing on The Palestinian Digital Rights Situation Since October 7th, 2023", 1 October 2023

7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, has published a comprehensive briefing on “The Palestinian Digital Rights Situation Since October 7th, 2023” The briefing provides insight into alarming violations documented by 7amleh, emphasizing the urgent need for action from tech companies and international duty-bearers.

In this paper, 7amleh documented disturbing trends observed on online platforms, including an unprecedented rise in online hate speech and incitement, the spread of mis- and disinformation, as well as the censorship of Palestinian voices. The briefing also delves into violations of digital rights due to the communications blackout in Gaza, as well as violations resulting from Israeli government actions that include arbitrary arrests, interrogations, and harassment based on social media activity. The paper includes violations by Israeli officials and the obligations of international duty-bearers in light of the documented violations of Palestinian digital rights.

The briefing includes recommendations for immediate actions to end the continued violence and ensure the protection of digital rights in the region. 7amleh calls for major social media platforms and companies to implement stronger measures to protect Palestinian digital rights and to investigate and take appropriate action in cases of incitement to violence or hate speech in all languages. 7amleh also calls on international duty-bearers, including the United Nations and the European Commission, to act towards putting an end to the systemic and deliberate discriminatory online policies and practices documented in the paper.

7amleh underscores the urgency of addressing these digital rights violations to protect freedom of expression, access to information, and the safety of Palestinians in the digital age.

To read the briefing, click here.