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Facebook, Google and Twitter Agree To Delete Hate Speech In Germany (reuters.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the enjoy-that-can-of-worms dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Facebook, Google, and Twitter have agreed to remove hateful posts from their platforms within 24 hours in Germany, officials announced yesterday. The web companies committed to the move in a new agreement with German authorities, after coming under increased pressure to help curb racism online in the country. The agreement will require web companies operating in Germany to conform with the law when monitoring hate speech expressed on their platforms, instead of referring to internal policies. The German law stipulates that any comment inciting violence against ethnic or religious groups is punishable by up to three years in prison.

7 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I know what people will say by 31415926535897 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why would people say that? Germany has never has true freedom of speech. Everyone seems to import the US perspective of Freedom of Speech on other countries. Germany does technically have Freedom of Expression in their Basic Law, but there are so many exceptions (like hate speech, holocaust denial and more), that it might as well not be called Freedom of Expression.

  2. how is it defined by Geoffrey.landis · · Score: 5, Informative

    The definition of hate speech is right there in the article:
    "any comment inciting violence against ethnic or religious groups."

    More specifically, from the article linked, a comment is to be deleted: "when it is about criminal expressions, sedition, incitement to carry out criminal offences that threaten people"

    --
    http://www.geoffreylandis.com
  3. Re:Suppression by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1, Informative

    One man's hate speech is another man's opinion.
    A sentence like: 'lets gather tomorrow in front of the refugee camp, burn it to the ground, kill every man running out and rape every woman ...' is hardly an opinion. It is hate speach, no need to argue about it.

    Who are you to judge which is which?
    I'm not judging that. A judge is judging that.

    That's the entire point of "free speech".
    That is not even true in your country. Free speach in Europe means: you can attack the government in any way you want with words. And the government has no base to prosecute you for it. It does not mean that you are allowed to agitate the populace into rape and plunder and pillaging.
    You may disagree, I for my part, don't.

    It certainly seems like what is being considered "hate speech" in the context of this article has a pretty broad and over-reaching definition.
    The context of this article does not mention what hate speach is. Hint: read the relevant laws, I guess you easily find english translations.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  4. Re:Yet another bow to islam by truck_soccer · · Score: 1, Informative

    You should be a comedian, if you aren't one already.

  5. Re:Yes. Why did you need to ask? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    German here. We value free speech. We also value the integrity of human dignity. The two are sometimes in conflict, but both are constitutional rights in Germany. As in the US and elsewhere, sometimes constitutional rights conflict and you have to make choices between them.

    Overall Germany ends up being judged as more free than the US in the freedom of press index of RSF:
    https://index.rsf.org/

    And on the Freedom House index:
    https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/germany
    https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/united-states

    Germany:
    Political Rights: 39 / 40
    Civil Liberties: 57 / 60

    US:
    Political Rights: 37 / 40
    Civil Liberties: 55 / 60

  6. Re:Islam isn’t the problem; assholes are by SillyHamster · · Score: 4, Informative

    1000 years ago, Christians were roaming the world, killing non-believers. How is this a whole lot different?

    Which Christians are you talking about?

    Looking at the history of Islam and Europe, 1000 years ago ...

    • 1012: Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, founder of the Druze sect and sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, orders the destruction of all Christian and Jewish houses of worship in his lands.
    • 1012: Berber forces capture Cordova and order that half the population be executed.
    • 1013: Jews are expelled from the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordova, then ruled by Sulaimann.
    • 1015: Arab Muslim forces conquer Sardinia.

    The first Crusades don't happen until almost 100 years later, in 1096, after yet more Islamic conquest and expansion.

    So 1000 years ago, Muslims were conquering nations and killing unbelievers. Why are you downplaying Islamic violence by creating a false equivalence with Christians?

  7. Re:Chilling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Christianity is reformed Judaism, Old Testament is not law that applies to Christians. The laws of Leviticus were turned into "turn the other cheek" by Jesus.

    You cannot compare Christians and Muslims by quoting from the Old Testament. That is simply ignorant.

    There is however plenty for you to quote in the New Testament. Get back to reading and come back with some more useful examples.