Facebook Oversight Board To Rule If ‘From River To Sea’ Is Hate Speech

Meta’s Oversight Board will consider whether the phrase "from the river to the sea" constitutes hate speech. If the board votes yes, posting the phrase could result in a ban on Facebook and/or Instagram. 

Supporters of Israel overwhelmingly argue that the phrase "from the river to the sea" is a call for genocide against the Jews. However, Meta recently ruled the phrase is ambiguous and thus shall not be policed. Now it's up to the 22-member group at Meta's independent oversight board to determine what the phrase means for Meta. 

"After that review, Meta determined that, without additional context, it cannot conclude that ‘From the river to the sea’ constitutes a call to violence or a call for exclusion of any particular group, nor that it is linked exclusively to support for Hamas," the board wrote.

"On the one hand, the phrase has been used to advocate for the dignity and human rights of Palestinians," the board added. "On the other hand, it could have antisemitic implications, as claimed by the users who submitted the cases to the Board."

For context, Meta’s Oversight Board acts independently of the Meta corporation.

According to the New York Post, Meta is required to heed the board’s rulings on specific content decisions, though it’s under no obligation to follow the board’s broader recommendations.

I maintain that the answer to hate speech is not less speech. The answer to hate speech is more speech. 

Bad actors will eventually convict themselves if you let them. Antisemites shouldn't be silenced. They should be exposed. 

Hateful actors are most dangerous when lurking beneath the surface.

Almost exclusively, we side with not policing content on social media. Let the vultures continue to spew their hatred toward Jews and white people and hope they eventually bear the consequences of their bigotry. 

Perhaps one day they will.

That said, "from the river to the sea" is a bit more complicated because it can encourage actual violence – as in genocide. Encouraging violence should be where even the most profound free speech of absolutists draw the line.  

The board says it is encouraging the public to submit posts including the phrase, so it can better assess its meaning. 

Check back to OutKick for coverage on the ruling.