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Meta policy director denies 2025 changes increased antisemitic content

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Meta's policy director Benjamin Good denied claims that policy changes in January 2025 led to an increase in antisemitic content.
  • He stated that conversations with Jewish advocacy groups were productive and that the policy changes aimed to allow debate on political topics, not to alter the approach to antisemitism.
  • Good could not provide a definitive explanation for a 79% drop in hate material removal after the policy shift, attributing it to a move towards reactive enforcement which is less prone to over-enforcement.

Meta's policy director Benjamin Good has pushed back against accusations that the company's policy changes in January 2025 resulted in a rise of antisemitic content on its platforms. Testifying before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Good asserted that the shifts, which moved away from proactive enforcement towards a model relying on user reports, were not intended to impact the handling of antisemitism.

I would not characterize the engagements [with the Jewish groups] that way.

— Benjamin GoodMeta's policy director responding to claims that Jewish advocacy groups reported more antisemitic content being shared on Meta's platforms.

Good described his engagements with Jewish advocacy groups as "overwhelmingly productive and constructive," rejecting the notion that these groups reported more antisemitic content. He explained that the policy adjustments were designed to permit broader discussion on political topics, mirroring language used in Congress and news media. "They were aimed at making small changes to the policy that would allow people to say things on our platforms that they were saying in Congress, on the news, and the goal of that was because we want people to be able to debate these political topics," he told the Commission.

Those conversations I would describe as overwhelmingly productive and constructive.

— Benjamin GoodMeta's policy director describing his interactions with Jewish advocacy groups.

He also shared that following the October 7th events, Meta received feedback from Jewish communities about experiencing content removals while attempting to speak out against antisemitism. "Here they were trying to engage in counter speech, and unfortunately, our systems were affecting them," Good stated, acknowledging the negative impact.

They were aimed at making small changes to the policy that would allow people to say things on our platforms that they were saying in Congress, on the news, and the goal of that was because we want people to be able to debate these political topics.

— Benjamin GoodMeta's policy director explaining the intent behind the 2025 policy changes.

When presented with data showing a 79% decrease in the removal of hate material after the policy changes, Good admitted he could not offer a "plausible explanation" and declined to speculate. He reiterated that the shift to a reactive approach was motivated by a desire to reduce over-enforcement, suggesting this might account for the lower removal rates.

Here they were trying to engage in counter speech, and unfortunately, our systems were affecting them.

— Benjamin GoodMeta's policy director describing feedback from Jewish communities after October 7.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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