Tech giant Meta has apologized for removing social media posts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim about the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The posts, which included a video and a note, were removed from Facebook and Instagram due to an “operational error”.
Meta’s apology came after Anwar’s office summoned the company’s representatives to seek an explanation for the removal of the posts. The company stated that the content has since been restored with the correct “newsworthy” label.
Anwar’s office had described the removal of the posts as a “blatant suppression of free expression” and demanded an apology from Meta. The Malaysian PM had also accused the tech giant of “cowardice” for removing his posts.
The removal of the posts sparked controversy, with Israel, the US, and the EU considering Hamas a terrorist organization. Anwar has defended Malaysia’s ties with Hamas, stating that they are with the political wing, not the military arm.
