حرب الخوارزمية

So, what exactly are algorithms?

Algorithms are complex computational systems designed to classify and organize content on digital platforms based on a set of criteria determined by the platform operators.

Their primary function is to enhance the user experience by delivering "relevant" content based on browsing behavior, interactions, geographic location, and other data.

How did they transform into a digital gatekeeper for the occupation?

However, this "neutral" definition quickly eroded as the platforms themselves became ideologically driven and politically directed spaces. Algorithms no longer merely display what is "relevant," but dictate what must be seen and what should be hidden. This became evident through the concealment of images of martyrs and leaders, the restriction of content mentioning the word "resistance," and the removal of posts documenting occupation crimes, while allowing the opposing narrative to spread unhindered.

Algorithms have come to play a functional role in reinforcing Israeli control over the global digital narrative by silencing anti-occupation voices and erasing the features of the Palestinian and resistance narrative. In this sense, algorithms in times of war have become a form of digital colonialism, exercising dominance not through weapons but through invisibility: granting visibility to those they choose while casting others into darkness. Thus, algorithms have transformed from mere technical classification tools into digital gatekeepers that serve the interests of the dominant power structure, practicing a subtle form of censorship.Algorithms have come to play a functional role in reinforcing Israeli control over the global digital narrative by silencing anti-occupation voices and erasing the features of the Palestinian and resistance narrative. In this sense, algorithms in times of war have become a form of digital colonialism, exercising dominance not through weapons but through invisibility: granting visibility to those they choose while casting others into darkness. Thus, algorithms have transformed from mere technical classification tools into digital gatekeepers that serve the interests of the dominant power structure, practicing a subtle form of censorship.

How have they affected resistance content?

Hassan Qteish, writer and theater actor, emphasizes that the battle of resistant content began years before the Al-Aqsa flood but reached its peak after October 7, 2023. Before the flood, the practice of circumventing censorship through word manipulation was already present—replacing Arabic letters with foreign ones and even inventing new words.

However, after October 7, censorship transformed into a full-fledged dictatorship in every sense of the word

This shift reflects the evolution of algorithmic censorship from merely blocking specific words to monitoring contexts and analyzing intentions, forcing content creators to engineer a new visual and audio discourse that matches the complexity of the censorship tools.

At this point, the issue is no longer just about circumventing banned words; it has become a comprehensive confrontation with algorithmic systems that learn quickly and trap resistant political and cultural discourse.

Types of Algorithmic Censorship

Account Suspension or Restriction

Accounts may face temporary or permanent suspension, or have certain features, such as advertising or direct interaction—disabled as a form of punishment for being classified as "violating content."

Labeling content as "sensitive" or "misleading"

Algorithms automatically apply labels to posts such as "sensitive content" or "contains misleading information," often based on inaccurate contexts or programmed biases.

Access Restriction

Even without full removal, algorithms reduce the reach of posts. They prevent content from appearing in recommended pages or the Explore section, significantly limiting its organic spread.

Shadow Ban

Content is technically published but remains hidden from most followers or is shown to a very limited audience, without notifying the account owner. This method is frequently used against keywords such as "resistance," "martyr," or specific terms.

According to Meta’s analysis

more than 38.8 million

million posts, images, and videos were removed or restricted on Facebook and Instagram based on government requests, mostly from the israeli entity, since October 2023.

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How do algorithms handle resistance content?

Media and Advertising Campaigns in Confrontation with Military Warfare

As cultural warfare has come to rival military conflict, the visual front has become one of the most critical battlefields. “The eyes see before the ears hear,” as designers say, and shaping public opinion today often begins with an image, poster, or logo. In this context, design is no longer mere decorative art but a tool for political expression and a form of resistance. During the 2023 aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, designers and artists from resistance environments faced doubled challenges: How to convey their messages amid suffocating censorship? How to craft symbols that bypass bans without losing their meaning? And how can an image become a cry when voices are silenced? In this audio interview, designer Ali Bassam, who worked on resistance campaigns throughout the war, introduces us to the vital role these campaigns play, especially under digital censorship, and how they confronted these restrictions through design.