Meta blocks human rights accounts in Saudi Arabia, UAE
Original: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE
Why This Matters
Shows how tech platforms enable government censorship in authoritarian regions
Meta geo-blocked over 100 Facebook and Instagram accounts of human rights organizations and activists from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and UAE since April 2026, following government requests citing cybercrime laws.
Rights groups ALQST for Human Rights, Democratic Diwan, researcher Abdullah Alaoudh and activist Yahya Assiri had their accounts made unavailable in Saudi Arabia starting April 30, 2026. Meta's content restriction reports show over 100 pages blocked since March 2026 in response to local legal requirements. The blocked content allegedly included reporting on regional geopolitical conflicts and security developments. This follows similar patterns on X, though X has not yet complied with Saudi blocking requests. Human rights organizations condemn the restrictions as arbitrary violations of freedom of expression, noting Gulf governments use cybercrime laws to silence dissent.