Meta apologises for removal of Malaysian PM's posts on Hamas leader

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meets Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

FILE PHOTO: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim leaves Japan's prime minister's official residence after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Japan, May 23, 2024. FRANCK ROBICHON/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Source: Pool

Meta Platforms apologised on Tuesday for the removal of content from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Facebook and Instagram accounts related to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last week.

Malaysia had asked Meta for an explanation after the posts expressing condolences over Haniyeh's death were removed.

"We apologise for an operational error where content from the Prime Minister’s Facebook and Instagram Pages were removed, and the content has since been restored with the correct newsworthy label," a Meta spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed response to questions.

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Malaysia's communications minister and members of the Prime Minister's Office had met Meta representatives on Monday to seek an explanation.

"The Prime Minister's Office views Meta's actions as discriminatory, unjust, and a blatant suppression of free expression," the office said in a statement on Monday.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters