Israel-Hamas War: Instagram apologizes for adding ‘terrorist’ to the bios of some Palestinian users

Web Desk

20th Oct, 2023. 11:50 pm
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Meta resolved an issue related to inappropriate Arabic translations in its products.
Instagram faced allegations of content suppression during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Instagram user @khanman1996 discovered the translation error and documented it.

Meta stated that it resolved an issue that briefly led to inappropriate Arabic translations in its products.

Instagram has encountered allegations of content suppression, particularly posts expressing solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Gaza conflict. Among the reported issues, some users have asserted that their content was “shadow banned” on the platform due to their pro-Palestinian posts. Shadow banning involves the platform taking measures to limit the visibility of specific posts, ensuring they don’t appear in the feeds of other users.

These users have pointed out that their 24-hour posts on stories related to the conflict have received fewer views compared to their other content. Additionally, they have noted that their Instagram accounts have become less discoverable through the search function, making it harder for others to find them.

In response to these claims, the tech giant acknowledged the presence of a bug that affected Stories. However, it stressed that this issue was unrelated to the subject matter of the posts, indicating that it was not a deliberate act of content suppression.

Biography confusion

After Instagram user @khanman1996 posted about the translation error and provided a screen recording on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, these events transpired.

In his bio, he had identified himself as Palestinian, accompanied by a Palestinian flag and the Arabic expression “alhamdulillah,” which translates to “praise be to God” in English.

Nonetheless, when users clicked on “see translation,” they were presented with an English translation that read: “Praise be to God, Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom”.

@khanman1996 mentioned in his posts that he was not Palestinian, but rather, he had tested the error after being informed about it by an unnamed Palestinian friend.

In a video shared after Instagram had resolved the problem, he indicated that the glitch had persisted for at least three hours. He also expressed his astonishment, stating that, personally, the mere fact that it was ever present was remarkable to him.

The translation error

The issue came to light when a Palestinian user on Instagram, @khanman1996, discovered a concerning translation error in user bios. In his initial posts on Twitter and TikTok, he pointed out that when a user identified as Palestinian and used the Arabic term “الحمد لله” (pronounced as “alhamdulillah”), Instagram’s translation feature mistakenly rendered it as “terrorist” in English. This translation error had the potential to create serious misunderstandings and negative connotations for Palestinian users who had simply expressed their identity or used a common Arabic expression.

The user’s discovery

@khanman1996, who himself was not Palestinian but had learned about the error from a Palestinian friend, conducted a screen recording to document the translation error. His posts gained significant attention, drawing public scrutiny to the issue. Users, especially those in the Palestinian community, raised concerns about the implications of such a translation mistake, as it could lead to stereotyping, misinterpretation, and the unjust labeling of individuals.

Instagram’s Response

Instagram responded promptly to the situation, acknowledging the translation error. The tech giant clarified that it was a mistake and not intentional content moderation. Instagram stated that the issue was not related to the subject matter and that it had arisen due to a bug affecting its translation system. The company assured users that they were working to address the problem and rectify the inaccurate translations.

Apologies and Ongoing Efforts

In their official statement, Instagram apologized for any distress or confusion the translation error may have caused. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for users, acknowledging the importance of cultural sensitivity and the prevention of unintentional harm through translation errors. Instagram reiterated their ongoing efforts to improve their systems and ensure that such errors are minimized in the future.

The Broader Implication

The incident highlights the critical importance of content moderation and the challenges social media platforms face when managing translations. While the error in this case was not deliberate, it serves as a reminder of the need for vigilant oversight to prevent potential harm or misunderstandings that may arise due to automated processes.

Israel-Hamas War: Instagram apologizes for adding ‘terrorist’ to the bios of some Palestinian users

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