Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

WordPress Bans Fascist Website Linked To Charlottesville Killer (fastcompany.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the about-face dept.

tedlistens writes: WordPress has said that it does not censor websites like that of self-proclaimed fascist group Vanguard America. But last night, the group's site was taken offline for violating the company's terms of service. The about-face was likely prompted by Vanguard's participation in last weekend's Unite the Right rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which James Alex Fields drove his car into a crowd, killing one person and injuring 19. Fields has claimed allegiance to Vanguard America; the group denies that Fields was a member. For WordPress to drop a site, even a fascist site, is a very big deal; the same is true of GoDaddy's and Google's decision to drop their registration of neo-Nazi site the Daily Stormer (another site that GoDaddy previously said would be permitted on free speech grounds). WordPress hasn't explained the shift in its approach to the website: the company's user agreement and terms of service have not changed since Charlottesville. That policy, like that of other tech platforms, has long stood by strict neutrality and freedom of expression. That may now be changing.

4 of 451 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Are we sure that it's a free spech issue? by tsqr · · Score: 4, Informative

    Does WordPress have anything in their terms of service about inciting violence, committing crimes, or breaking the law in general?

    If Vanguard America hasn't distanced themselves from the actions of this alleged member, perhaps they could be classified as a terrorist organization? This isn't necessarily an issue of free speech any more than breaking the law is.

    From the WordPress User Guidelines:

    Directly threatening material.
    Do not post direct and realistic threats of violence. That is, you cannot post a genuine call for violence—or death—against an individual person, or groups of persons. This doesn’t mean that we’ll remove all hyperbole or offensive language.

  2. Re:Are we sure that it's a free spech issue? by c · · Score: 4, Informative

    Also from the WordPress User Guidelines:

    Bear in mind that these are just guidelines â" interpretations are solely up to us. These guidelines are not exhaustive and are subject to change.

    --
    Log in or piss off.
  3. Re:Social responsibility or a PR pre-emptive strik by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

    That's completely different than opening the wallets of every American to bail out the Banking Industry. Thanks Republicans, for being SOOOOOOO smart that you don't need my money! Oh, wait...

    Before blaming that on Republicans, you should look at the facts: Democrats voted 172 to 63 in favor of the bailout, while Republicans voted 108 to 91 against it.

  4. Re:Are we sure that it's a free spech issue? by DRJlaw · · Score: 4, Informative

    No. They must bake the cake regardless of the symbols.

    No, they must bake the cake if they would bake the same cake for others without basing their refusal upon the customer being a member of a protected class.

    Here's a source backing my assertion. Where's a source backing yours?