Facebook Bans Extremists

18/04/2019

Facebook has finally banned a number of UK extremist groups and the people behind them from its social network.

I say finally, because it has been now that these organisations have been very successful in using Facebook and other social media platforms to increase their exposure and spread their messages of hate and intolerance.

As an individual, I have repeatedly reported individual posts by some of these vile groups to Facebook, having seen them promoted through social media, appearing on the screen of my electronic devices. That is not to suggest that my reports themselves have led to this action, although it would make me proud if they were even a small contributor to the decision of the social media giant.

Facebook said the decision was taken because it bans users who "proclaim a violent or hateful mission or are engaged in acts of hate or violence".

“Individuals and organisations who spread hate, or attack or call for the exclusion of others on the basis of who they are, have no place on Facebook. Under our dangerous individuals and organisations policy, we ban those who proclaim a violent or hateful mission or are engaged in acts of hate or violence," Facebook said in a statement. 

The groups who have been banned include Britain First, the English Defence League, the British National Party, Knights Templar International, National Front and National Action. These groups are now banned from posting on the site. In addition, the leaders and spokespeople of these hate groups have themselves been banned.

The move by Facebook will also ban anyone from being allowed to support the groups, which have been declared by Facebook to be dangerous organisations. Supporting the groups will be viewed as a breach of the site's community guidelines, meaning users who post about them could be banned.

Whilst some will no doubt shout about censorship and trot out tired insults about liberals and 'snowflakes', I am in no doubt that this is a positive move.

Removing the ability for these hate mongers to spread their vile message through the use of Facebook or Instagram is a great first step in the fight to stop vulnerable people being radicalised by white supremacist extremist groups. I hope that other platforms will follow suit and help us curtail the rise of hate, mistrust and xenophobia.