Nicosia, Cyprus. Meta Platforms has shut down the official Facebook and Instagram pages of Elam following user complaints of hate speech, prompting political and legal action from the party. Elam said the move became public on Friday and that it received no prior warning.
Shutdown and party response
Reports in Alithia said the shutdown was confirmed, with Elam stating its social media presence was taken offline without notice. The party said it has appealed to both the police and the communications commissioner, arguing the decision restricts its right to political expression online.
Claims of coordinated complaints
Elam spokesman Marios Pelekanos said the deactivation followed what he described as a series of coordinated complaints and amounted to “silencing a parliamentary political movement.” He said it was a violation of the right to free political expression and cited Elam’s elected representation in both the House and the European parliament.
Complaint filed with authorities
Elam said a formal complaint was filed with the criminal investigation department (CID), with copies sent to Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis and the Communications Commissioner, regarding the deactivation of its pages on February 12. The party called for a full investigation and the immediate restoration of its accounts.
Election-related concerns
Elam said removing its official platforms deprives the public of access to political information and could directly or indirectly influence the outcome of the upcoming general election in May. The party said the “silencing distorts public political debate.”
Meta comment
Meta has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for the shutdown of Elam’s accounts.
How should social media platforms handle complaints about hate speech involving official political party accounts?
