South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, along with attorneys general from 11 other states, has called on Meta to address allegations that its social media platforms were used by Hamas to broadcast violent acts during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The group sent a letter to Meta expressing concern over reports that Facebook and Instagram enabled the livestreaming of murders and abductions committed by Hamas.
The attorneys general referenced a lawsuit filed by victims of the attack, which alleges that terrorists uploaded video footage of their actions directly onto Meta’s platforms. One victim’s granddaughter reportedly found video of her grandmother’s murder posted on her own Facebook page.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “If these allegations are true, Meta not only failed to live up to its own policies, it became a vehicle for terrorist propaganda. We are demanding answers and real accountability.”
Meta has promoted its efforts to remove violent content through its Transparency Center. However, the attorneys general claim that these measures were insufficient in this instance. They have asked Meta to clarify its current approach to moderating violent and terrorist content, outline any remedial steps taken since the incident, and describe new strategies aimed at preventing future misuse by terrorist groups.
Wilson emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “When a terrorist group can weaponize your platform to livestream murder of innocent civilians, you’ve lost control of your platform,” he said. “Meta has a moral and legal duty to protect people from becoming victims again online.”
The coalition has given Meta until November 10, 2025, to respond. Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas joined South Carolina in signing the letter.
