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Germany Plans To Fine Social Media Sites Over Hate Speech (reuters.com)

Germany plans a new law calling for social networks like Facebook to remove slanderous or threatening online postings quickly or face fines of up to 50 million euros ($53 mln). From a report: "This (draft law) sets out binding standards for the way operators of social networks deal with complaints and obliges them to delete criminal content," Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement announcing the planned legislation on Tuesday. Failure to comply could see a social media company fined up to 50 million euros, and the company's chief representative in Germany fined up to 5 million euros. Germany already has some of the world's toughest hate speech laws covering defamation, slander, public incitement to commit crimes and threats of violence, backed up by prison sentences for Holocaust denial or inciting hatred against minorities. It now aims to update these rules for the social media age.

2 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Hate speech? by frovingslosh · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why would there be any hate speech? Personally I love the fascist Nazis in Germany who have decided that they get to control what others say.

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    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  2. Re:That was my point by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hey Germans, what ever happened to "nie wieder"?

    They gassed it.

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    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.