WASHINGOTO: Instagram on Wednesday announced new measures to curb abusive and racist content on the image-centric social network, following an onslaught of hateful comments directed at UK footballers after the Euro 2020 final.
The Facebook-owned platform said it would start using “stronger warnings” when people post potentially offensive comments, and a new “hidden words” feature that enables users to filter abusive messages.
Instagram will also allow users to limit comments and message requests during “spikes of increased attention.”
The move comes weeks after social platforms scrambled to take down racially abusive comments directed at members of the England football team following a heartbreaking loss in the Euro 2020 final, which was played last month after a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The racist and hateful content, which had prompted condemnation from British political leaders and the public, also led to pressure on the large US social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said the new measures were designed to reduce the spread of racist, sexist and homophobic content.
“Our research shows that a lot of negativity toward public figures comes from people who don’t actually follow them, or who have only recently followed them, and who simply pile on in the moment,” Mosseri said in a blog post.
“We saw this after the recent Euro 2020 final, which resulted in a significant — and unacceptable — spike in racist abuse toward players.”
Mosseri said users “tell us they don’t want to switch off comments and messages completely; they still want to hear from their community and build those relationships,” and that the new policy “allows you to hear from your long-standing followers, while limiting contact from people who might only be coming to your account to target you.”
Mosseri said the warnings already in place reduce the frequency of abusive comments by as much as 50 percent.
“We already show a warning when someone tries to post a potentially offensive comment,” he wrote.
“And if they try to post potentially offensive comments multiple times, we show an even stronger warning... Now, rather than waiting for the second or third comment, we’ll show this stronger message the first time.”
Instagram unveils new tools to reduce abuse, racist comments
https://arab.news/m5z3k
Instagram unveils new tools to reduce abuse, racist comments
- The Facebook-owned platform said it would start using "stronger warnings" when people post potentially offensive comments
- Instagram will allow users to limit comments and message requests during "spikes of increased attention"
NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut federal funding to public media
- National Public Radio and three of its local stations said in a lawsuit that cuts violate the First Amendment
- Legal battle over funding cuts is the latest in a series of clashes between the Trump administration and government-run news sources
NEW YORK: National Public Radio and three of its local stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. argues that Trump’s executive order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment.
Trump issued the executive order earlier this month that instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. Trump issued the order after alleging there is “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.
“The Order’s objectives could not be clearer: the Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes and chill the free exercise of First Amendment rights by NPR and individual public radio stations across the country,” the lawsuit alleges.
“The Order is textbook retaliation and viewpoint-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment, and it interferes with NPR’s and the Local Member Stations’ freedom of expressive association and editorial discretion,” it said.
The court fight seemed preordained, given that the heads of NPR and PBS both reacted to Trump’s move with statements that they believed it was illegal. The absence of PBS from Tuesday’s filing indicates the two systems will challenge this separately; PBS has not yet gone to court, but is likely to soon.
The president’s attempts to dismantle government-run news sources like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have also sparked court fights.
The administration has battled with the press on several fronts. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC, CBS and NBC News. The Associated Press also went to court after the administration restricted access to certain events in response to the organization’s decision not to rename the Gulf of Mexico as Trump decreed.
Arab journalists, lawmakers call for media reform at Dubai summit
- ‘Without free media, we cannot survive,’ says panelist at summit
- Israeli aggression, inaction, disunity, religious divisions highlighted
DUBAI: Speaking at the Arab Media Summit on Tuesday, prominent Arab journalists and lawmakers — including Emad El-Din Hussein, Paula Yacoubian, and Mohammed Al-Rumaihi — called for urgent media reform to confront growing political fragmentation and foster greater unity across the Arab world.
“Whether we like it or not, the world changed after Oct. 7, 2023,” said Hussein, editor-in-chief of the Egyptian daily Al-Shorouk. “I am proud to stand with the Arab League, but we are deeply divided.”
Hussein spoke during a panel alongside Yacoubian, Lebanese journalist and member of parliament, and Al-Rumaihi, Kuwaiti author and sociology professor.
“For the first time in the Arab world, we’re witnessing significant transformation,” said Yacoubian. “We are beginning to build our own foundation.”
While acknowledging developments such as the Syrian Arab Republic’s tentative steps toward stabilization, and the formation of a new Lebanese government, the panelists underscored persistent structural challenges across the region.
“The Israeli dream is to divide Syria — so what are Arabs doing in response?” Yacoubian asked, pointing to regional inaction and disunity.
Each panelist offered a distinct perspective on the root causes of the Arab world’s instability.
“Political Islam and the manipulation of religion remain among the most serious internal conflicts we face,” said Al-Rumaihi.
Hussein echoed this sentiment: “Political Islam is the biggest threat we face today. While many talk about solutions, few are willing to diagnose the real disease.”
Despite differing viewpoints, the panelists agreed on one point: media and education must be at the heart of efforts to heal political rifts.
“Arab education is classical,” Al-Rumaihi noted. “We need to provide an education to give people immunity against anything the media says.”
Hussein added: “Many can’t comprehend the evolving language of today’s youth. The Arab world remains in the dark, and our leaders are enabling this. Without free media, we cannot survive.”
Lebanon PM says media is key to nation’s peace after conflict
- Nawaf Salam thanks UAE, GCC, criticizes Israel for ‘violations’
- Media must be ‘neutral and a shared space for understanding’
DUBAI: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has emphasized the pivotal role of the media in shaping a new era of peace and prosperity for Lebanon.
“We are at a historical juncture in our country, especially when it comes to media. We want a living Arab media that creates the future and doesn’t linger on the past,” Salam said during his address on Tuesday at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai.
Since Lebanon’s ceasefire agreement with Israel in November, the country has been racing to rebuild — physically, socially, and politically.
“We are back — back to our state and back to our Arab identity,” Salam declared, concluding his speech and receiving emphatic applause from the audience.
He credited the UAE and GCC for their support in Lebanon’s recovery, noting the significance of Emirati citizens returning to visit the country.
“I want to thank the GCC, and especially the UAE and its leaders such as His Highness President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who kept their promise and allowed our Emirati brothers to travel to Lebanon,” he said.
Highlighting the media’s power in shaping public discourse, Salam acknowledged both its potential for progress and its risk of harm.
“Seventy-five percent of the world’s population has a smartphone; 67 percent are connected to the internet, and 57 percent receive news through social media,” he said.
“Media is becoming a tool for misinformation and the spread of distorted context.”
In a country marked by decades of political and sectarian divides, Salam stressed the importance of media neutrality in his nation.
“We don’t want the media to be loyal to us. We want it to be professional, neutral, and a shared space for understanding,” he stated.
Despite progress, Salam warned that Lebanon’s path forward remains complex, but harnessing the influence of the media was a critical tool for improving conditions in Lebanon, and maintaining sovereignty.
“We still have commitments,” he said, referring to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “We continue to face occupation of our land and ongoing violations from Israel.”
He reassured, however, that while the media can be a “maker of peace and war,” Lebanon would prioritize a neutral media outlet — free from sectarian ties — that upholds truth for the well-being of all Lebanese citizens.
“I speak to you not only as a prime minister, but as Lebanese citizen, I have lived through the pain and hope, and I also believe that when words are honest and true, they can be a bridge to building humanity between communities.”
“Lebanon is making its comeback from its crises, based on the principle of reform and sovereignty. Our vision for Lebanon is not just imagined, it is a project.
“We want a state of decision and a country that is enshrined in its Arab identity and to become a bridge from the east to the west,” he said.
“We are back, we are back to our state and back to our Arab identity,” he said.
Arab media has “biggest role” in showing Gaza injustices, says Al-Azhar’s grand imam
- Ahmad Al-Tayeb decries Israel’s ‘deliberate’ killing of journalists
- Lauds Arab govts for helping to highlight the plight of Palestinians
DUBAI: Arab media has the “biggest role” in showing injustices in Gaza, said the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb on Tuesday.
“Thousands of journalists in Gaza are being martyred and more injured and lost their homes and families. This deliberate targeting of journalists aims to silence the truth and to stop the reality of the atrocities in Gaza being broadcast to the world,” he said.
“I call on all media professionals to establish a joint Arab media strategy that will be a shield to protect the truth and our Arab identity,” he said.
Al-Tayeb said Arabs and Muslims suffer from media misinformation and disinformation in the West.
“We as Arab and Muslims have suffered from media damage after being accused of terrorism and being unfair to women and linking Islam to these extremist ideologies,” said Al-Tayeb.
Al-Tayeb said the late Palestinian intellectual Edward Said had demonstrated convincingly how Western cultural production is used to vilify Arabs, Islam and Muslims.
He added: “The destruction happening in Gaza is being criticized by all people of the world but it has been ongoing for 19 months.
“The Arab media has the biggest role in disclosing and showing how the people in Gaza are being treated and keeping the Palestinian cause at the front of everyone’s minds.”
“We are witnessing the change of stances in many EU countries for the Palestinian cause and standing up for the atrocities that Gaza is facing. I would like to thank the efforts of the Arab governments in facilitating the delivery and providing of aid to the people in Gaza,” he said.
Al-Tayeb said many have refused to speak out about the atrocities in Gaza. “Those who criticized us and claimed to care about human principles stayed silent to the injustices in Gaza,” he said.
Al-Tayeb said Al-Azhar had discussions with the late Pope Francis and the Vatican to create an artificial intelligence project that protects the interests of the public.
“The project was almost finalized, however, the pope passed before we had finished and now we are in communication with the Vatican to hopefully finalize the work,” he said.
“The use of AI should be regulated and practiced with morality and ethical considerations in order to avoid it turning into a monster,” he said.
Yaqeen Hammad, 11-year-old activist and influencer, killed in Israeli strike
- Known for her humanitarian and aid work, Hammad was considered a ‘beacon of humanity’ in a region devastated by conflict
LONDON: Palestinian activist and social media influencer Yaqeen Hammad, 11, was killed in an Israeli airstrike over the weekend in northern Gaza, amid an intensifying Israeli military campaign.
Yaqeen died on Friday night when Israeli forces shelled the Al-Baraka area in Deir Al-Balah. Her death came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the entire Gaza Strip under Israeli control by the end of the war.
Known throughout Gaza for her radiant smile, optimism, and humanitarian work, Yaqeen had become a symbol of resilience in a region devastated by conflict. Alongside her older brother, Mohamed Hammad, she delivered food, toys, and clothing to displaced families. She was also an active member of Ouena, a Gaza-based nonprofit focused on aid and relief efforts.
“I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war,” she once wrote on social media.
Despite her young age, Yaqeen had gained a large following for her ability to bring comfort and positivity to others during wartime. According to the Palestine Chronicle, she also shared practical survival tips for living under siege, such as cooking without gas, a common hardship in Gaza caused by repeated blockades and infrastructure destruction.
Always seen with a radiant smile and unwavering spirit, 11-year-old Yaqeen Hammad was a beacon of hope in Palestine’s Gaza.
— αпiпδιтα (@_SyncreticWorld) May 26, 2025
But on May 23, her bright future was tragically cut short by an Israeli air strike.
IG | TRT World pic.twitter.com/OiY3npw4qc
News of her death triggered an outpouring of grief on social media and in Gaza. Activists, journalists, and followers mourned the loss of a child who had become a symbol of light during one of Gaza’s darkest times.
“Always seen with a radiant smile and unwavering spirit, 11-year-old Yaqeen Hammad was a beacon of hope in Palestine’s Gaza,” read one tribute on X.
Photojournalist Mahmoud Bassam wrote: “Her body may be gone, but her impact remains a beacon of humanity.”
Yaqeen's death comes as Israeli airstrikes intensify despite ongoing discussions about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Over the weekend, more than 100 people were killed, including 52 on Monday, when a strike hit a school-turned-shelter where many were sleeping.
The ongoing bombardment has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. International organizations have condemned Israel’s blockade on aid, saying that the enclave’s 2.3 million residents are facing starvation.
