Dutch antisemitism watchdog condemns Meta for failing to remove hate speech
The Dutch National Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism (NCAB) has publicly criticized Meta for failing to adequately moderate antisemitic content on its platforms. Coordinator Eddo Verdoner said the lack of enforcement allows hate speech to thrive, particularly in the comments section of popular social media account Cestmocro, which has a significant influence on Dutch youth, according to BNR.
“We find it concerning that there is less moderation,” Verdoner told BNR, attributing the issue partly to Meta’s American origins. “In the United States, the interpretation of freedom of speech is broader. Intervention typically only occurs in cases of explicit incitement to violence or unrest. Platforms like Meta thrive within that American standard because they were designed in that ecosystem,” Verdoner said. “As a result, criminal statements such as incitement to hate and discrimination can gain too much ground in the Netherlands.”
According to Verdoner, most social media companies have rules prohibiting racism and antisemitism, but enforcement is often inconsistent. He pointed to Meta’s recent decision to terminate its contract with Canadian firm Telus, which monitored Dutch-language content from Barcelona. Around 2,000 jobs were lost as a result.
“Removing those comments doesn’t undermine your ability to be critical of Israel,” Verdoner said, emphasizing that criticism of Israeli policies should never justify the spread of antisemitic hate.
Verdoner said Meta's policy shift began after the 2016 election of Donald Trump. The company stopped fact-checking posts for misinformation, citing concerns about censorship. Meta later ceased proactive moderation of hate speech and other policy violations. Now, the platform mostly removes offensive content only when reported by users.
Meta’s approach has left moderation up to individual account holders, placing a heavy burden on them to manage hate speech. One of the most prominent examples is Cestmocro, a Dutch-language news account that posts daily short updates on social media about politics, disasters, sports, and entertainment. However, its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war stands out—both for its frequency and its strong pro-Palestinian stance.
Verdoner said that while expressing criticism of Israel is allowed, it must be accompanied by responsible moderation of user reactions. “The comments on those posts are often antisemitic. Removing them doesn’t compromise your position,” he told BNR.
With more than one million Instagram followers, Cestmocro plays a major role in shaping how young people in the Netherlands perceive the war in Gaza. Verdoner warned that many comments on the platform spread dangerous, racist stereotypes about Jews. “Some comments say that killing is in the Jewish nature. If you report on this subject, you must be especially aware of the hateful reactions it generates,” he said.
He added that Jewish children are now being bullied because of their identity and, in some cases, are being forced to switch schools. Verdoner directly linked this rise in antisemitic incidents to the online environment, saying that youth are exposed to hateful content through platforms like Cestmocro. “Young people get their information from Cestmocro, while little is being done about the antisemitic reactions they see on those posts,” he told BNR.
Verdoner called on both Cestmocro and the major American tech platforms to take responsibility. “These parties must stop pointing fingers at one another and each take responsibility to stop this antisemitic poison,” he added.
In response to questions from BNR, Meta said it prohibits attacks based on appearance, ethnicity, or nationality and claimed that it had recently strengthened its policies to combat antisemitism more effectively.
Meta stated that it now removes posts that downplay or deny the Holocaust, as well as those that spread conspiracy theories alleging Jewish control over politics and media. A company spokesperson added that the term “Zionist” is also moderated when used in a veiled antisemitic context.
In the Netherlands, statements inciting hatred or discrimination can be prosecuted under criminal law. However, under current practices, platforms like Meta only remove such content if users report it. The NCAB’s concern is that this reactive model leaves too much room for criminal speech to circulate freely online.
Verdoner stressed that Cestmocro and Meta must enforce their own rules consistently. “There need to be boundaries,” he said, adding that this is especially urgent in the context of ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.
