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Twitter Isn't Removing Enough Hate Speech, Complains The EU (cnn.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the anti-social-media dept.

An anonymous reader quotes CNN: Twitter is not good enough at removing hate speech from its platform. That's the judgment of Europe's top regulator, which released data on Thursday showing that Twitter has failed to meet its standard of taking down 50% of hate speech posts after being warned that they include objectionable content. Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Google have all agreed to do more, promising last May to review a majority of hate speech flagged by users within 24 hours and to remove any illegal content.

A year into the agreement, the European Commission said that Facebook and YouTube, which is owned by Google, have both managed to remove 66% of reported hate speech. Twitter's rate, meanwhile, was 38%. That's below the commission's standard but a major improvement from December, when the service was removing only 19% of hate speech... Twitter was also slightly slower than rivals Facebook and YouTube when it came to reviewing content. The regulator said that Facebook reviewed flagged content within 24 hours in 58% of cases. YouTube did the same 43% of the time, while Twitter met the 24-hour benchmark in 39% of cases.
European lawmakers are considering laws mandating the blocking of online hate speech, so they're carefully watching what happens when social media companies self-regulate.

"Tackling illegal hate speech online is a contribution to the fight against terrorism," argued the EU Commission's top justice official.

11 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. And "Hate Speech" is, of course, defined as... by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anything the person in charge doesn't want to hear.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:And "Hate Speech" is, of course, defined as... by sound+vision · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I hate Twitter as well. I hate it so much that I don't even use it. Actually, "hate" is too strong a word. Is it that I pity the users? No that's not quite it either...

      I do feel comfortable saying this: it is a terrible method of communication. By design, it promotes banal soundbites and sloganeering. The most depth you will ever get in a Twitter post is what Kim Kardashian had for breakfast, or what Donald Trump accidentally mashed on his keyboard when he fell asleep watching Fox News, or what new fetish some popufur has discovered. Even if there is some profound, free thinker who has a Twitter account, you won't find any profundity there. At best you'll get a link to somewhere else that actually has something worth reading. That is on top of all the negatives that the other social media have, like the strengthening of filter bubble.

      I would tell everyone complaining about Twitter to "put their money where their mouth is", but it doesn't even require any money, it just requires you to stop being a sheep. Don't use it. Not only will you help yourself, you will work to bring down the beast. No users, no money, no Twitter.

  2. Censorship by augus1990 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Censorchip... that's whats the UE want.

  3. So... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Tackling illegal hate speech online is a contribution to the fight against terrorism," argued the EU Commission's top justice official.

    So... what this guy is saying is that he hates terrorism? Shouldn't we block him too?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  4. Illegal where? by pubwvj · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What Learless Feeders like the EU totally fail to comprehend is that we don't all agree with them. On person's hate speech is another person's free speech. Just because they don't like something on the internet doesn't mean they need to, or can, ban it. One would think the EU would know history better.

  5. Re:Spot on. by scsirob · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Exactly this. Twitter is now blocking elected politicians in some countries because they call out EU on their migration policies. Who the f*ck are they to decide what is hateful, and to whom??

    --
    To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
  6. A quick question on hate speech by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A quick question for everyone.

    Kathy Griffin holding the bloody, severed head of the US president was all over twitter the other day.

    Does this image count as hate speech? Will Kathy lose her twitter account, or will reposters of the image be banned or penalized in any way?

    I'm just wondering if the content is important, as opposed to the political bias.

    1. Re:A quick question on hate speech by StillAnonymous · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The "right" doesn't care, for the most part. By and large, they really are about free speech.

      They just don't like the hypocrisy that the "left" espouses. If the left is going to say that hate speech should be regulated, then the left has to be held to their own standard. That they aren't is the problem the right sees and exposes.

      "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules." Wasn't that an Alinsky directive? Ironic that it can be used against his disciples, isn't it?

  7. Free Speech == Nazi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There's a video below of a gentleman at what appears to be an anti-fascist demonstration holding a sign saying, "The right to openly discuses ideas must be defended". According to the so called anti-fascists he's a Nazi and a fascist for having these opinions:

    https://twitter.com/BasedMonitored/status/862025400951742464

    Leftists of Slashdot, at what point do you start condemning the action of your fellow leftists? Most leftists are remaining very quiet as about this new form of fascism, that is coming in the guise of anti-fascism. Are you just going to stay quiet as Europe becomes a fascist state where only some opinions are permitted?

    This is a very dangerous situation, and action must be taken by all sides to protect free speech. I feel strongly that free speech should be enshrined in law, just as it is in the US. Sadly, I see very little chance of that happening. We're on a slippery slope and we're already at least half way down it.

  8. Re:Spot on. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Damn those white Christians that keep exploding all over Europe.

    In fact, a shitskin muzzie just mowed down a bunch of pedestrians on the London Bridge just minutes ago.

    But yes, that white Christian terrorism, whoo boy we gotta do something about that!

    Faggot.

  9. Don't be prejudiced! by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 4, Funny

    But yes, that white Christian terrorism, whoo boy we gotta do something about that!

    Faggot.

    Now now, let's not be prejudiced!

    There's no evidence to suggest that it was Muslim in any way. We should wait until the official reports come in.

    Let's not jump to conclusions.