Journalistic organizations have called on Meta* to investigate the blockages of Azerbaijani media.

Meta* must investigate complaints of copyright infringement, after which the pages of independent Azerbaijani publications were blocked on Instagram* and Facebook*. Such complaints can be used for coordinated restrictions on access to independent journalism.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Instagram* blocked the pages of independent Azerbaijani publications Abzas Media and Toplum TV, operating in exile, after complaints of copyright infringement. Representatives of the editorial offices considered the events part of a coordinated campaign to limit their audience and link the attacks to pressure from the Azerbaijani authorities on independent media. Earlier, the Meta* administration blocked the Facebook* page of the Azerbaijani opposition newspaper "Azadlyg", citing mass complaints and a 2019 publication about suicide. The editorial office considered the blockage part of the pressure on the critical publication regarding the authorities. On August 28, journalists from 8 Azerbaijani media in exile called on Meta* to verify the sources of complaints and restore the blocked pages.

The network of media organizations in exile NEMO, which includes MeydanTV, called on Meta* to consider and satisfy the appeals of independent Azerbaijani media in exile and lift the blocks on their accounts imposed on charges of "copyright infringement".

NEMO is an international network of mutual support and advocacy for media in exile. It unites journalists and organizations working outside their countries to share experiences, knowledge, and support. NEMO emerged about four years ago as a podcast about the work of independent media in exile and then grew into a professional network advocating for free access to independent information and against authoritarianism.

Copyright-related complaints are either treated as isolated incidents or assessed using automated mechanisms that are unable to detect coordinated attempts to restrict independent journalism.

NEMO expresses solidarity with "Azerbaijani media operating in exile and their call to Meta* to investigate these complaints and prevent the abuse of its systems to restrict access to independent journalism."

"This is not the first time that NEMO members face such campaigns. Currently, several of our members are facing similar issues on Meta* or 'YouTube' platforms. Some of them receive support from organizations dealing with digital rights protection, but the problem continues to arise again. This happens because copyright-related complaints are either treated as isolated incidents or assessed using automated mechanisms that are unable to detect coordinated attempts to restrict independent journalism," said NEMO.

It called on social media platforms to take this issue seriously and consider the possibility that their systems may be used by authoritarian regimes seeking to limit people's access to information.

"Independent journalism plays an important role in ensuring that people living under restrictions have access to various positions and views. Digital platforms are responsible for ensuring that their systems do not become tools for suppressing these voices. This issue needs to be addressed not tomorrow or in a few months — but right now," emphasizes NEMO's statement.

Another international journalistic organization condemned the blocking of accounts of Azerbaijani media in exile, expressing concern about "a wave of malicious and coordinated copyright infringement complaints, as a result of which Meta* blocked the accounts of leading émigré media from Azerbaijan — Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and the newspaper 'Azadlyg' — on Instagram* or Facebook*."

It also notes that these attacks followed a similar wave of false copyright infringement complaints against media in neighboring Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia. Preventing the growing abuse of content moderation mechanisms to suppress the press in authoritarian countries should be a priority and urgent task for social platforms, the organization noted.

The Azerbaijani authorities reject claims of persecution of government critics and restrictions on media and internet freedom. "In Azerbaijan, media freedom is ensured. There is no censorship in Azerbaijan, [there is] free internet, and hundreds of media operate. Therefore, it would be unfair to criticize Azerbaijan for actions allegedly aimed at hindering media development. What kind of restriction can there be with free internet?" - said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in April 2024 in Berlin at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Aliyev linked the arrests of journalists to "illegal financing from abroad".

Earlier, as reported by "Caucasian Knot", against the backdrop of reports of the blocking of accounts related to the newspaper "Azadlyg", Meydan TV pointed out Azerbaijan's financial interests in Meta*. "The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) invested $179 million in Meta shares in the first quarter of 2024, for the first time including the company in the top five largest technology investments of the fund. At that time, Meta shares accounted for 1.4% of SOFAZ's stock portfolio," the publication notes.