Meta apologises for removing PM Anwar's posts

Meta has apologised to Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim for removing his social media posts related to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. 

In an email response to Reuters, Meta said the removal of content was an "operational error" and that the content has since been restored with the correct newsworthy label. 

However, Meta reportedly added a note saying that the posts were still in violation of community guidelines but have been left on Instagram for public awareness. 

Don't miss: PM Office summons Meta, demands apology for removing Anwar Ibrahim's posts

PM Anwar has reportedly accepted his apology. According to The Star, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the minister had told him and his friends in the Middle East, that he has accepted the apology, and that the government hopes such an incident will not occur again. 

Fahmi reportedly said that during the meeting with Meta, he had told Meta to inform the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) about any changes in their community guidelines.  

He reportedly added that community guidelines of social media platforms are always changing, especially on geopolitical issues, but are not often communicated. 

The minister reportedly asked Meta to make sure that PM Anwar is treated equally as other heads of governments too and that there should not be a "double standard" in the matter, according to The Star.

Earlier this week, the PMO summoned Meta to demand an explanation regarding the removal of several posts from prime minister Anwar Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

According to a press statement by the PMO seen by A+M, the meeting saw the PMO expressing its deep dismay at Meta's action in removing the prime minister's posts. 

This comes after PM Anwar and the PMO called out Meta for taking down his Instagram posts on 1 August. In a statement on Facebook, the prime minister said that it "makes no sense when a post honouring a fighter who worked to liberate his country from tyranny and suffering is considered dangerous. 

The prime minister added a warning for Meta, telling it to not be a "pacifier and a tool of Israel's tyrannical Zionist regime". 

Similarly, the PMO released a statement on X saying that it "condemned the actions of the Instagram platform provider Meta, which took down the post of prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's meeting with the leader of Hamas in Doha, Qatar last May." 

It added that Meta's action "clearly shows discrimination against the situation in Palestine and the country's leaders. "Therefore, we demand an explanation and urge Meta to apologise," it said.  

A+M has reached out to Meta for more information. 

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