Meta Removes Instagram, Facebook Accounts Linked to Iran's Supreme Leader After Criticism for Supporting Hamas

Meta has confirmed the termination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Instagram and Facebook accounts, condemning Iran's Supreme Leader's support for Hamas after the October 7 assault on Israel.

The tech giant's action was conducted based on the "Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy," which outlaws violent organizations and persons, including US-designated terrorists. The removal had been based on a breach of this policy, even though Meta did not disclose particulars.

"In an effort to prevent and disrupt real-world harm, we do not allow organizations or individuals that proclaim a violent mission or are engaged in violence to have a presence on our platforms," Meta's policy states, according to France 24.

Denouncing Terrorism and Violence

Meta's decision to remove the accounts came in response to Khamenei and associated accounts expressing support for the Hamas attack on Israel, per AP News. This move aligns with broader efforts by online platforms to address content violating policies on violence and terrorism. Iran's mission to the United Nations has yet to issue an immediate response to Meta's decision.

Despite arming and supporting Hamas, Iran is not suspected of orchestrating the October 7 brutal assault on Israel.

Since then, the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip has killed over 27,000 Palestinians, heightening Middle East tensions. Following the incident, Iran-backed militias like Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels have attacked Israel.

Microsoft revealed that "government-aligned actors" from Iran have engaged in cyber-attacks since October 2023, aiming to support Hamas and weaken Israel, its political allies, and business partners. Tehran officially denies involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack.

While some post-October 7 operations lacked coordination with Hamas, Microsoft noted their growing success. October 2023 witnessed 11 Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations, a stark rise from one operation every other month in 2021, according to a CNN report.

Growing Cyberattacks Identified

Early December 2023 saw Iranian-aligned hackers disrupt streaming services in the UAE, Canada, and the UK, replacing them with a deepfake news video featuring an AI-generated news anchor showing purported images of Palestinians affected by Israeli military operations.

Microsoft's Threat Intelligence report anticipates an escalating threat from Iran's cyber and influence operations, particularly with increased boldness and collaboration among Iranian and Iran-affiliated actors. The report warns of a growing threat leading up to the US elections in November.

Ayatollah Khamenei, subjected to longstanding US sanctions, faced mounting pressure for removal from online platforms, especially following mass protests triggered by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in Iran. Despite Iran's ban on Facebook since the 2009 election and protests,

Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 35 years, has maintained an account on X, previously known as Twitter, and has five million Instagram followers.

The US considers Hamas a foreign terrorist organization. Iran bans Instagram and Facebook, but Iranians use VPNs to access restricted websites and apps, including US-owned Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.