Meta Apologises to Malaysian PM for Content Removal

Meta Platforms issued an apology to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for removing content related to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination from his Facebook and Instagram accounts. The removal was deemed an operational error, and the content has been restored with a newsworthy label. Malaysia views Meta's actions as discriminatory.

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

Malaysia had requested an explanation from Meta after posts expressing condolences over Haniyeh's death were taken down. "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 email response.

Malaysia's communications minister and representatives from the Prime Minister's Office had met Meta officials on Monday to seek clarification. "The Prime Minister's Office views Meta's actions as discriminatory, unjust, and a blatant suppression of free expression," the office stated on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies.)