Microsoft, Facebook, YouTube and Others Agree To Remove Hate Speech Across the EU

Tech giants in conjunction with European Union are taking a stand to fight hate speech. Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube, Google, and Facebook have launched "code of conduct" aimed at fighting racism and xenophobia across Europe. The companies aren't legally obligated, but have agreed to "public commitments" to review the "majority of valid notifications for removal of illegal hate speech" in less than 24 hours, and make it easier for law enforcement in Europe to notify the firms directly. From a TechCrunch report: Tech companies will have to find the right balance between freedom of expression and hateful content. Based on the code of conduct, they'll have dedicated teams reviewing flagged items (poor employees who will have to review awful things every day). Tech companies will also educate their users and tell them that it's forbidden to post hateful content. They'll cooperate with each other to share best practice. They'll encourage flagging of hateful content and they'll promote counter speech against hateful rhetoric. It's good to see that this issue got escalated and the European Commission was able to come up with a code of conduct quite quickly. Instead of making tech companies deal with every single European country, they can agree on rules for the EU as a whole."The recent terror attacks have reminded us of the urgent need to address illegal online hate speech," Vera Jourova, EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, wrote in the European Commission press release. "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, where European values and laws are respected."

Comments

Re:who decides what is "hate speech"???

[geek]

will facts equal hate speech??? will not believing in some political views equal hate speech???

Yes

Re:who decides what is "hate speech"???

[rastos1]

Oxford Dictionary:
threat: noun; a statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done.

So if I post "I don't want them to come to my country because they will overload and ruin our social system" it's not a threat. If I post "we should beat the crap out of Syrians coming to establish Sharia law in my country", yes that is a threat.

The law that I quoted, is not something that is new. It exists for decades and there are at about 2-3 cases per year,where it is applied in a court (and it makes headlines). I.e. I don't see it creating the mess you forecast. That can change as the refugee crisis mounts up again, but that is yet to be seen.