Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft, Twitter are joining forces to crackdown on illegal online hate speech within 24 hours before it goes viral. The tech giants plan to take action by removing or disabling the content once the complaints are investigated. The move is a part of the European Commission code of conduct to remove explicit messages from the Internet.
The Internet is a place for free speech, not hate speech, IT companies commit
to review&remove online #HateSpeech pic.twitter.com/Tq7MfYqHNw— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) May 31, 2016
“Social media is unfortunately one of the tools that terrorist groups use to radicalise young people and racist use to spread violence and hatred. This agreement is an important step forward to ensure that the Internet remains a place of free and democratic expression,” Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, said in a statement.
Hate speech is narrowly defined in the document as “all conduct publicly inciting to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin”.
The code of conduct is also described as “promoting independent counter-narratives” to curb “hateful rhetoric and prejudice” as well as education about appropriate online behavior.
Twitter’s Head of Public Policy for Europe, Karen White said, “Hateful conduct has no place on Twitter and we will continue to tackle this issue head on alongside our partners in industry and civil society. We remain committed to letting the Tweets flow. However, there is a clear distinction between freedom of expression and conduct that incites violence and hate.”
When the news hit social media, it was met wit mixed reactions as critics believe the endeavour will infringe on freedom of speech.
Insert #IStandwithHateSpeech.
#IStandWithHateSpeech is trending and I wish to be traded to another species.
You can ask for future draft picks— John Lurie (@lurie_john) May 31, 2016
What is one man/woman’s hate speech is another’s truth. We cannot grow and learn by stifling conversation between us. #IStandWithHateSpeech
— Brenden Dilley (@Hublife) June 1, 2016
People who think “hate speech” is bad, are threatening me for this tweet. The irony is tasty. #IStandWithHateSpeech pic.twitter.com/2CwqQIeVlb
— Leah the Boss (@LeahRBoss) June 1, 2016
If hate speech is squashed within 24 hours, how will trolls ever clock in?
