This report presents an analysis of the main digital violations, based on the documentation of 7amleh. Moreover, it provides an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of the perpetrators and the victims, according to the type of violation and its distribution on social media networks. It is worth noting that the violations of digital rights encompass unlimited technical and systemic complications.  

During the second quarter of 2022 (April to June 2022), the status of human rights in the digital space was no different than the overall human rights status in the Palestinian context; the reporting period witnessed growing challenges and complications that scaled up to violations in the Palestinian digital space.    

Digital space communication companies and social media platforms maintained their practices of constraining and banning Palestinian content, while, on the other hand, allowing the Israeli authorities to develop technologies and propose draft laws that promote its authority to further control and track content in digital space. In addition, the Palestinian authorities still detain and summon social media activists, violating their right to free opinion and expression. On the other hand, the Palestinian authorities fail to legally and systematically address important issues such as privacy and access to information.    

Unfortunately, the hateful and inciting speech continues to be widely spread in the Palestinian digital space, which is full of misleading news and fake accounts. Yet, social media companies still systematically restrain Palestinian content on a large scale, especially political content. Additionally, incidents of gender-based digital violence have been significantly rising over the same reporting period.    

The reporting period has widespread of incitement and defamation incidents against the Palestinian LGBTQIA+ community who  have been exposed to aggressive attacks, leaving adverse psychological impacts in addition to panic and fear of being exposed to the possible physical attacks. 

According to 7amleh-The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, the reporting period witnessed an increased number of automated fake accounts (Bots) on Twitter. It was observed that before those accounts were deleted due to the efforts made by 7amleh’s contact with relevant companies, dozens of those accounts had abruptly followed the accounts of Palestinian human rights organizations and activists supporting the Palestinian cause. Similarly, many fake pages impersonating electoral lists in a number of cities emerged during the Palestinian local council elections. Those incidents were observed and documented by 7amleh, which, after communicating with relevant social media companies, was able to get those pages deleted. 

This report presents an analysis of the main digital violations, based on the documentation of 7amleh. Moreover, it provides an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of the perpetrators and the victims, according to the type of violation and its distribution on social media networks. It is worth noting that the violations of digital rights encompass unlimited technical and systemic complications.  

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