Meta has disabled more than 100 Facebook pages and Instagram accounts in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, citing local cyber‑crime laws. The block began on April 30, affecting NGOs such as ALQST for Human Rights, Democratic Diwan, researcher Abdullah Alaoudh and defender Yahya Assiri. Requests came directly from Saudi and UAE authorities, prompting geo‑blocking of the accounts.

Human‑rights groups argue the moves mirror a broader trend of tech firms serving Gulf governments as censorship enforcers. Similar geo‑blocks appeared on X after Saudi officials demanded the removal of activist profiles, yet X has not complied as of May 20. The Saudi and UAE regimes rely on expansive cybercrime and counter‑terrorism statutes to silence dissent, a practice intensified after the February 28 strikes on Iran.

Critics demand Meta publish the full legal requests and the human‑rights impact assessments it claims to conduct before complying. They also ask for immediate restoration of the blocked pages and transparent notice to affected users about the specific law invoked. Under the UN Guiding Principles, companies must verify that government demands align with international human‑rights standards before execution.