Instagram, X and others blocking Saudi dissidents’ accounts
Summary
Major U.S. social media companies like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snapchat, and X (owned by Elon Musk) have blocked or limited accounts of Saudi Arabian dissidents inside Saudi Arabia, following requests from Saudi authorities. These actions have affected activists who criticize Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, with some companies notifying users and others not.Key Facts
- Meta blocked at least seven accounts, including those of American and European dissidents, inside Saudi Arabia in April.
- Meta said it restricts content in countries where it breaks local laws but keeps their own community standards intact.
- Saudi authorities requested Meta to restrict 144 Instagram and Facebook accounts or pages in April.
- Snapchat slowed or removed some Saudi dissidents’ accounts without informing users.
- Some X users received letters about Saudi complaints that their accounts broke Saudi laws, but X has not yet removed the content.
- Activists targeted include Abdullah Alaoudh (US-based) and Omar Abdulaziz (Canada/UK-based), who criticize Saudi human rights abuses.
- Saudi requests cited concerns about content violating “public order, religious values, public morals, or the sanctity of private life.”
- Human rights groups say these actions show how censorship can be disguised as legal procedure.
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