Censorship by Stealth: The West’s Algorithmic Gatekeepers
The powerful Western states have weaponized the social media algorithms to silence the truth and further pro-West propaganda.
The Invisible Grip of Shadow Banning
Algorithms as Modern Censors
Shadow banning has emerged as a concept of censoring the content of users without notifying them. A social media activist can still post on his social media account, but his voice is suppressed under an invisible weight of censorship. The move appears intentional, aimed at curbing the reach and visibility of voices that challenge Western policies. In recent years, this tactic has been frequently used to alter global public opinion on Palestine and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Social media platforms like Meta* argue that shadow banning is nothing more than “content moderation.” However, reality is to the contrary. In reality, Meta* uses its algorithms to censor the Instagram and Facebook content. This silencing of truth is not something accidental but intentional. International reports suggest that Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta*, have greatly restricted the reach of Palestinian news outlets Al-Watan News, Palestine TV, and Wafa News Agency since October 2023 to minimize awareness about the ground realities in Gaza. A host of social media posts are being removed from news feeds, accounts are being........





















Toi Staff
Sabine Sterk
Gideon Levy
Penny S. Tee
Mark Travers Ph.d
Gilles Touboul
Rachel Marsden
Daniel Orenstein
John Nosta