Facebook and Instagram Restrict the Use of the Red Triangle Emoji Over Hamas Association
Users of Meta’s platforms could see posts taken offline if they include the upside-down red triangle symbol.
Meta is restricting the use of the upside-down red triangle emoji, a reference to Hamas combat operations that has become a broader symbol of Palestinian resistance, on its Facebook and Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms, according to internal content moderation materials reviewed by The Intercept.
Since the beginning of the Israeli assault on Gaza, Hamas has regularly released footage of its successful strikes on Israeli military positions with red triangles superimposed above targeted soldiers and armor. Since last fall, use of the red triangle emoji has expanded online, becoming a widely used icon for people expressing pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli sentiment. Social media users have included the shape in their posts, usernames, and profiles as a badge of solidarity and protest. The symbol has become common enough that the Israeli military has used it as shorthand in its own propaganda: In November, Al Jazeera reported on an Israeli military video that warned “Our triangle is stronger than yours, Abu Obeida,” addressing Hamas’s spokesperson.
According to internal policy guidelines obtained by The Intercept, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has determined that the upside-down triangle emoji is a proxy for support for Hamas, an organization blacklisted under the company’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy and designated a terror group under U.S. law. While the rule applies to all users, it is only being enforced in moderation cases that are flagged internally. Deletions of the offending triangle may be followed by further disciplinary action from Meta depending on how severely the company assesses its use.
