Vantage | How Hamas is acing the social media game despite bans

In recent times, an interesting dynamic has emerged in the realm of social media, particularly concerning the Palestinian terror group Hamas and the popular messaging app Telegram. With Hamas using this medium there will be implications and the impact on the dissemination of information and misinformation during times of conflict.Hamas and Telegram: An unconventional allianceHamas, considered a designated terrorist organisation in the United States and Europe, has long faced restrictions on mainstream social media platforms like Meta and Google. However, it has found a haven on Telegram. This messaging app's lax content moderation rules have allowed Hamas to maintain a presence through its military wing's channel, the Al-Qassam Brigades.Sharp increase in followers and engagementThe statistics speak for themselves. Before 7 October this year — that's the day of the ghastly attack on Israel — the Al-Qassam Brigades had around 200,000 followers on their Telegram channel. Since the terror attack, their follower count has tripled to approximately 600,000. The views on their posts have skyrocketed as well increasing more than tenfold. Before the massacre in Israel, a typical post on their channel was viewed around 25,000 times. Today, they regularly reach over 300,000 views. These numbers underline the channel's increasing popularity among Telegram users.Telegram's unique moderation rulesTelegram's popularity, in part, is attributable to its relatively lenient content moderation rules. Unlike other major social media platforms, it doesn't readily shut down accounts or channels for extremist content. Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, expressed a nuanced perspective on the matter. He acknowledged that Hamas used Telegram to issue warnings to civilians in the conflict zone and he questioned whether shutting down their channel would help save lives or endanger more. While some view this approach as controversial, Durov believes that allowing this source of information to exist serves a purpose."Earlier this week, Hamas used Telegram to warn civilians in Ashkelon to leave the area ahead of their missile strikes. Would shutting down their channel help save lives — or would it endanger more lives? While it would be easy for us to destroy this source of information, doing so risks exacerbating an already dire situation," says Durov.Concerns surrounding Hamas' narrativeThe presence of Hamas on Telegram raises important questions. Hamas is a terror organisation that has engaged in violent actions including attacks on Israel, civilian casualties and hostage-taking. While they may argue that they use Telegram to present their side of the story, there are concerns about how this narrative aligns with their actions.Affiliated groups and misinformationBeyond the official Hamas channel, affiliated groups that support the organisation's activities are also active on Telegram. While Telegram claims to moderate content, it's important to note that this issue extends beyond Telegram. Social media platforms, in general, have seen an uptick in pro-Hamas content during times of conflict. Meta, for example, reported removing over 795,000 posts, and even Twitter (now X) has taken action against Hamas-affiliated accounts.Proliferation of misinformationThe second aspect of this complex issue is the proliferation of misinformation and fake news during conflicts. As the Israel-Palestine conflict intensifies, there has been a surge in fake news, fabricated videos, testimonies and warnings. This avalanche of misinformation is a cause for concern as it can further exacerbate an already complex situation.Accountability and the challenges aheadThe responsibility for addressing this complex issue does not rest solely on social media platforms. They maintain that they are attempting to combat misinformation, but the scale of the problem remains significant. In a world where more people turn to social media for news and information, the spread of misinformation clouds facts and judgment.The presence of Hamas on Telegram and the broader issue of misinformation on social media during conflicts represent a multi-faceted challenge. As the conflict in the Middle East persists, this issue remains a critical one, both in terms of its immediate implications and its impact on the broader discourse surrounding social media and its responsibilities in the digital age.Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.