Call on Facebook to adopt the IHRA’s working definition of Antisemitism

The Online Hate Prevention Institute, together with over 125 other organisations from around the world, has called on Facebook to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance – IHRA’s Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Dr Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute, commented: “The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism brings clarity that helps organisations and governments recognise antisemitism in its various forms. Facebook needs such clarity and consistency as some antisemitic content is currently falling through the cracks. Adopting this definition, created by experts and approved by many governments and international bodies would ensure greater consistency and a more effective response to online antisemitism.”

The full text of the open letter to Facebook says:
“We applaud your recent announcement regarding the revision of Facebook policy standards on hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation.

We are confident that Facebook can successfully protect and support users, meet corporate social responsibility concerns of stakeholders, and continue to lead the social media industry.

As part of your efforts, we call on you to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as the cornerstone of Facebook’s hate speech policy regarding antisemitism.

Facebook’s Director of Content Policy Stakeholder Engagement, Peter Stern, recently attested to the usefulness of the IHRA working definition when Facebook first developed its hate speech policy. However, Mr. Stern admitted that Facebook does not have a policy aimed at combatting online antisemitism. He further admitted that Facebook does not embrace the full adoption of the IHRA working definition because the definition recognizes that modern manifestations of antisemitism relate to Israel.

In accordance with the recommendations outlined in the “The New Antisemites” report, which call on social media platforms to eliminate antisemitic content by adopting the IHRA working definition as the basis for content removal policies, we the undersigned coalition of 128 organizations, urge Facebook to implement a hate speech policy on antisemitism that includes the full IHRA working definition at its core.

Nearly 40 countries have already endorsed or adopted the IHRA working definition in some official capacity, either through their membership in the IHRA or independently. In the United States, in addition to the adoption by the State Department, the recent Executive Order on Combatting Anti-Semitism instructs the Department of Education to consider the IHRA definition when evaluating Title VI Civil Rights Act complaints of discrimination.

The overwhelming majority of civil society organizations at the forefront of efforts to combat antisemitism endorse and encourage the use and adoption of the IHRA working definition. Today’s antisemitism undoubtedly includes the delegitimization of Israel’s right to exist. This bigotry is expressed in various ways, such as the rejection of Jewish self-determination, Holocaust revisionism and denial, and the application of double standards toward the Jewish state and people.

Will Facebook join the ranks of the historians, advocates, activists, lawmakers, and leaders who compiled the IHRA working definition? Will Facebook take responsibility and move toward removing the scourge of antisemitism from today’s most important online public square?

Jews today, like many other minority communities, are being targeted and attacked in record numbers. They experience physical violence, harassment, and discrimination offline and online.

Jews overwhelmingly report that online antisemitism is the most acute form of Jew-hatred they experience.

The full IHRA working definition of antisemitism provides Facebook an effective, neutral, and nuanced tool to protect Jewish users from hate speech and imagery that incites hate and oftentimes leads to violence. While the impact of online hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation on our society continues to be researched and explored, we cannot afford to lose any more time in fighting this bigotry and preventing violence.

We urge Facebook to put words into action and power behind commitment — and fully adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.”

Media attention so far:

Australian Jewish News (Op-Ed by our CEO, Dr Andre Oboler) – https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/facebook-needs-the-ihra-defin…
J-Wire – https://www.jwire.com.au/120-jewish-groups-write-to-facebo…/
The Jerusalem Post – https://www.jpost.com/…/130-jewish-and-pro-israel-organizat…
The Jewish Journal – https://jewishjournal.com/…/more-than-120-jewish-and-pro-i…/
European Jewish Press – https://ejpress.org/124-ngos-worldwide-urge-facebook-to-ad…/
Algemeiner – https://www.algemeiner.com/…/facebook-urged-to-adopt-inter…/
Israel National News – https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284972

The Online Hate Prevention Institute is an Australian charity tackling all forms of online hate since 2012. Our work is supported by public donations. To learn more about us: https://ohpi.org.au/ To join our mailing list: https://ohpi.org.au/mailing-list To donate to support our work: https://ohpi.org.au/donate/

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