CIA Warns Staff About Social Media Use After Official Shares Pro-Palestine Post

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The Facts

  • The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Tuesday sent out an internal email to employees cautioning them against making political statements on social media. This came after a report in the Financial Times made known that a high-ranking CIA official posted a pro-Palestine image on Facebook in the weeks following the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.

  • According to reporting from the Financial Times, the CIA official is the agency's associate deputy director for analysis. She is said to have changed her Facebook cover photo on Oct. 21 to an image of a man waving a Palestinian flag; an image that's frequently used to criticize Israel, the publication reported. "The Financial Times has decided not to name her after the intelligence agency expressed concern about her safety," it further said.

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

CIA officials are committed to analytic objectivity in their work. Officers may have personal views but are still committed to unbiasedness as an organizational value. Nonetheless, this was a foolish move from a career official who knows better than to post on a divisive issue, particularly in the middle of a crisis.

The Financial Times

Establishment-critical narrative

In aiding and abetting Israeli attacks on Gaza, which UN officials have already warned may breach international law, the US may be just as legally culpable if they provide direct military support. Some argue those crimes reach the threshold of genocide and/or genocidal intent. Given the intensity of bombing in Gaza, it's no wonder a growing number of US officials are growing uncomfortable.

Intercept

Metaculus Prediction

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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