Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Facebook to ban white nationalist content

newsroom.fb.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

931–940 of 1001 posts

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#931

Post by coldtea »

talmand wrote: post #194

At what point do such things change into a public discourse problem? Do we wait until it can be shown that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. influenced elections because they refused to serve information from a candidate they didn't like? If we aren't already there, it's not long before it is. What do you think would happen if these "private companies" with such deep hooks into our communication infra…

>At what point do such things change into a public discourse problem?

When they censor opinions that the top 10% agrees with, since those are that control the media and what's acceptable.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#932

Post by nl »

int_19h wrote: post #893
amalcon wrote: post #837

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the release: > Our own review of hate figures and organizations – as defined by our Dangerous Individuals & Organizations policy – further revealed the overlap between white nationalism and separatism and white supremacy. It doesn't appear that this content is being banned because Facebook surrogates find the politics in question abhorrent (though they likely do so find). It is being banned because it is acting…

> It is being banned because it is acting as part of a recruitment funnel for an ideology that openly advocates violence. That would be believable, if it was applied as such across the board - e.g. also removing Christian Dominionists, Stalinists, Salafi Muslims, NoI etc.

Facebook already deplatforms radical Islamic preachers on a regular basis.

I doubt that have enough data to show the links for the other groups.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#933

Post by pqs »

The major problem I see here is why making a specific policy for a specific group of radicals? This problem could be tackled with the generic rules already in place, such as "it is forbidden on Facebook to promote violence".

There are many violent chauvinisms in the world that are not white, and they should be treated equally.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#934

Post by coldtea »

sagichmal wrote: post #608
talmand wrote: post #194

At what point do such things change into a public discourse problem? Do we wait until it can be shown that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. influenced elections because they refused to serve information from a candidate they didn't like? If we aren't already there, it's not long before it is. What do you think would happen if these "private companies" with such deep hooks into our communication infra…

> What do you think would happen if these "private companies" with such deep hooks into our communication infrastructure suddenly decided to remove all data associated to the Republican Party? For that matter, the Democratic Party? They wouldn't do that, because there would be justified public outcry. Luckily, as moral agents, we humans are capable of differentiating "general political party" from "white nationalists…

>Luckily, as moral agents, we humans are capable of differentiating "general political party" from "white nationalists", and can target the latter and not the former.

Really? How about plain nationalists? How about communists? How about separatists? How about traditionalists? How about "Occupy Wall Street"? How about "nationalists" in e.g Iceland, a country where nationalists would be predominantly if not exclusively white in the first place?

If your idea of "general political party" is Democrats and Republicans and the occasional third candidate, ie. the bland two-party consensus that agrees on almost everything (foreign policy, more money to big money, etc), but disagrees on token issues (and that increasingly less), then sure.

But the movements and parties that change things up historically were never welcomed as "general political parties" by the establishment and the "good people" of the 10%.

I'm from a generally center-left-leaning country, where e.g. Reagan would be considered the epitome of nationalist and/or imperialist. Would it be OK for Facebook to censor Reagan (or some modern politician with the same ideas) on those grounds?

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#935

Post by nl »

HereIGoAgain wrote: post #863
amalcon wrote: post #837

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the release: > Our own review of hate figures and organizations – as defined by our Dangerous Individuals & Organizations policy – further revealed the overlap between white nationalism and separatism and white supremacy. It doesn't appear that this content is being banned because Facebook surrogates find the politics in question abhorrent (though they likely do so find). It is being banned because it is acting…

[flagged]

The argument being pushed here (whether they themselves understand it or not) is basically that "seeing something a little bit to the right > leads a little more to the right > then even more to the right > NAZI!"

But it's not at all! Viewing racism as a left/right thing is wrong altogether. While it isn't obvious in US politics today, the left has often had a problem with race too.

Racism should be abhorrent to both left and right, and that should be independent of immigration views.

Which hilariously is a concept born almost exclusively out of modern leftist and current "_blank_ studies" thought/ideology.

Well actually Facebook has data showing this, so I don't think that's correct.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#936

Post by cannedslime »

pqs wrote: post #933

The major problem I see here is why making a specific policy for a specific group of radicals? This problem could be tackled with the generic rules already in place, such as "it is forbidden on Facebook to promote violence". There are many violent chauvinisms in the world that are not white, and they should be treated equally.

But its okay to be a south african black nationalist. Its OK to pose with decapitated heads if you are of arabic descent, but its not okay to be white apparently.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#937

Post by cannedslime »

pj_mukh wrote: post #757
JPKab wrote: post #735

My question is this: Are they also going to ban other ethno nationalist movements? Last I checked, the Hebrew Israelites (a black nationalist and anti semitic group) are on FB. They believe that the people who currently identify as Jews are evil impostors.

Are any of them communicating and chest-beating to organize violent acts? I realize its tough to tell with some of these groups. I think Facebook in this situation is looking at net-effects (esp given the timing of it all). Note German, Dutch and French Heritage celebration isn't banned. Neither is Palestinian or Syrian. But Hezbollah is banned [1], not sure why White Nationalists shouldn't be. [1] https://www.timeso…

Yes, yes they are. Plenty of videos on YT of black israelites attacking innocent bystanders, yelling deaththreats and racial slurs etc.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#938

Post by cannedslime »

When you ban groups with relatively harmless names such as "Its OK to be white" I think you just end up giving people an eye opener... Its NOT OK to be white? I guess that makes it easier for Caucasians to decide their political affiliation... I mean just search for terms like "kill white people" "Kill whitey" etc. There is plenty of people glorifying white South Africans getting slaughtered in their bedrooms on facebook. But I guess thats OK, because fuck dey white man am i rite?

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#939

Post by pqs »

cannedslime wrote: post #936
pqs wrote: post #933

The major problem I see here is why making a specific policy for a specific group of radicals? This problem could be tackled with the generic rules already in place, such as "it is forbidden on Facebook to promote violence". There are many violent chauvinisms in the world that are not white, and they should be treated equally.

But its okay to be a south african black nationalist. Its OK to pose with decapitated heads if you are of arabic descent, but its not okay to be white apparently.

That's exactly the point. In Africa, India, South-East Asia, and other places there is a lot of violent racism and nationalism going on.

Re: Facebook to ban white nationalist content

#940

Post by zerogvt »

Regardless of anyone's political affiliation and/or fear or trust in moderation, FB is a company operating a private service. Private as opposed to general elections where you and I have a constitutional right to participate. FB service is FB's home not our collective. So, I don't get why their new rule (long overdue IMHO especially after the NZ shootings) is a cause of concern, criticism or outrage.

I should also remind you that similar (equally sane IMHO) bylaws apply in the current forum - at least from what I've seen as long as I'm here.

Post reply on HN