(Courtesy of AJC) American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, was joined on November 6 by roughly 50 Jewish community organizations from around the world to urge tech and social media companies to take prompt and effective action to counter “the surge in online content celebrating the terrorist organization Hamas and the heinous murders and related attacks it committed against 1,400 civilians in Israel on and since October 7, 2023.”

As the groups state in their open letter to company executives, “We have subsequently observed a dramatic increase in antisemitic hate speech and misinformation on several social media platforms and technology services following the attacks, which have triggered violent attacks against Jews and Israelis around the world. Since Hamas and other terrorist organizations are dedicated to Israel’s violent destruction and the murder of Jewish civilians, praise of any kind for these organizations and their leaders enhances the real danger Jews face today. We know periods of intense violence in the Middle East are often accompanied by increased assaults—verbal and physical—against Jews and their institutions […] Since October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents, often driven by what is seen in the media and on social media, have spiked around the world.”

In response to this spike in antisemitism, the groups are urging the companies “to adopt and enforce policies that protect Jews facing threats to their rights to life and physical integrity, to freedom of religion or belief, and the right to participate in public and cultural life, including by removing content from their platforms that encourages or creates an imminent risk of such harm,” while also making clear that these platforms “should allow space for robust debate and the expression of a wide range of positions, including criticism of Israel and non-violent expressions of support for Palestinian statehood.”

In addition to AJC, the letter was signed by:

World Jewish Congress

Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations

Jewish Federations of North America

Anti-Defamation League

B’nai B’rith International

European Jewish Congress

European Union of Jewish Students

Combat Antisemitism Movement

Jewish Community Center Association of North America

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council

American Zionist Movement

MERCAZ USA

Board of Deputies of British Jews

Confederation of Israelite Associations of Venezuela

Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium

Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (Canada)

Central Israel Committee of Uruguay

Community Service Trust, United Kingdom

Confederation of the Jewish Communities of Colombia

Federation of Jewish Communities in Czech Republic

Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

HIAS-JCORE (United Kingdom)

Israel Community of El Salvador

Israel Confederation of Brazil

Jewish Community of Argentina (AMIA)

Jewish Community of Ecuador

Jewish Community of Chile

Jewish Community of Guatemala

Jewish Community of Lithuania

Jewish Confederation of Ukraine

Jewish Forum of Mexico

Jewish Representative Committee of Paraguay

Jewish Representative Council of Ireland

Jewish Taiwan Cultural Exchange Association

Latvian Council of Jewish Communities

Panama Jewish Congress

Maccabee Task Force

Minyan on the Palm – Jewish Community of Dubai

Myanmar Jewish Community

The National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry

Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”

Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities

The Women’s Zionist Organization of America

To see the full text of the letter, go to https://www.ajc.org/LettertoBigTech