Made Invisible - How Facebook Undermines Critical Journalism and Betrays Press Freedom

It is a silent bleed that doesn’t show immediately. No direct ban, no public block, no notice. But the numbers speak clearly: posts that engage in investigative work, are rich in facts, and deal with sensitive topics like the Epstein complex, Trump’s military strikes, or the role of intelligence agencies are massively restricted in reach. While harmless posts or even polemical comments reach several thousand users, carefully researched articles starve in the shadow of the algorithms – often with just a tenth of the visibility, completely independent of their relevance or resonance. Right-wing populists must be clapping their hands, and for conspiracy theorists, the sun is rising.

A particularly drastic example can be seen on July 23: an investigative report on Trump’s airstrike against Iran, published on July 17 and free of any violations of Facebook’s guidelines, reached just under 2,000 people despite around 4,000 clicks – with over 450 interactions. The ratio is absurd. In contrast, a flippant comment like “...but I’m green, they should shut down their shop 😂😂😂” is shown over 5,000 times, with comparatively few reactions. Posts on human rights violations or research into algorithmic moderation also systematically end up in the digital shadows. In addition, media and industry outlets repeatedly report that Facebook automatically unfollows pages for users – without their knowledge, without notification. Visibility is thus not only denied but actively removed. A massive blow to any journalist.

The article https://kaizen-blog.org/en/unter-der-erde-ueber-dem-abgrund-trumps-iran-schlag-und-das-raetsel-von-pickaxe-mountain/

What may appear to be an isolated case reveals itself upon closer inspection to be a system. The shadowban – that is, the algorithmic suppression of critical content without open labeling – is not a myth, but a reality. Particularly affected are smaller, independent media outlets that do not run ads, have no political allies on the board, and do not swim with the current. Platforms like ours, which specialize in investigative research on human rights, matters of public interest, politics, international law, and the environment, are increasingly targeted by a system that has turned visibility into a weapon. What is happening here is not a technical glitch but a structural attack on press freedom – deliberately driven by a company that has long since become a power player in its own right.

Investigative journalism requires courage, conviction – and your support.