January-March 2024 Quarterly Report

Following the continuation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian digital rights violations surged during the first quarter of 2024. While Israeli assaults on Palestinians and infrastructure continue, various actors continue their attacks on digital freedom and privacy, most notably the Israeli authorities and social media companies. 

The Israeli authorities continued to target the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including the Internet and communications infrastructure. These attacks have significantly impaired Palestinians' ability to access the internet, utilize communication services, and both access and share information. Furthermore, it restricts their capacity to express opinions in the digital realm and document atrocities from the field.

On the other hand, various social media platforms, albeit unevenly, as shown below, continue to restrict the ability of Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates worldwide to digitally post, express, and advocate for their rights in the digital sphere. This is done primarily through disproportionate and overmoderation of Arabic content. At the same time, platforms such as X, Telegram, and Facebook have failed to implement effective policies to protect Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates from smear campaigns, incitement, and hate speech aimed at intimidating and silencing every Palestinian rights defender.

To learn more about the Palestinian digital rights situation in the first quarter of 2024, you can view the full report, here.