Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has removed the account of prominent Comedian and human rights activist Bassem Youssef without providing an official explanation for the action on August 20.

X’s new owner, Elon Musk, promised to be a “free speech absolutist” but has gone back on his word, deleting the prominent political figure who shot to fame during the Egyptian revolution before he moved to the US to continue his comedy career. He has become increasingly outspoken in recent months against Israel, appearing on programmes defending Palestinians.

The news spread rapidly among users on the platform, with many speculating that the account's deletion might be connected to Youssef's outspoken support for Palestine and Gaza.

This move has ignited criticism of X, with numerous users arguing that it infringes on freedom of expression.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing airstrikes in Gaza, during which social media companies have faced accusations of applying double standards and suppressing free speech in favour of Israel.

Critics allege that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X have been closing accounts that share images and videos documenting the daily struggles of Palestinians.

Reports suggest that millions of posts related to the situation in Gaza have been deleted across these platforms, with companies citing content regulations and issuing warnings against material they deem as inciting hatred or violence.

Using algorithms to enforce these policies has raised concerns about the potential for over-censorship and the silencing of legitimate voices.

This latest incident involving Bassem Youssef's account has further fueled the ongoing debate about the role and responsibilities of social media platforms in moderating content during times of conflict.