Facebook extending ban on hate speech to white nationalism, white separatism

Facebook is extending its ban on hate speech to prohibit the promotion and support of white nationalism and white separatism.

The company previously allowed such material even though it has long banned white supremacists. The social network said Wednesday that it didn't apply the ban previously to expressions of white nationalism because it linked such expressions with broader concepts of nationalism and separatism — such as American pride or Basque separatism, which are still allowed.

But civil rights groups and academics called this view "misguided" and have long pressured the company to change its stance. Facebook said it concluded after months of "conversations" with them that white nationalism and separatism cannot be meaningfully separated from white supremacy and organized hate groups.

Critics have "raised these issues to the highest levels at Facebook [and held] a number of working meetings with their staff, as we've tried to get them to the right place," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washington, D.C.-based legal advocacy group.

"This is long overdue as the country continues to deal with the grip of hate and the increase in violent white supremacy," she said.

"We need the tech sector to do its part to combat these efforts."

Though Facebook Inc. said it has been working on the change for three months, it comes less than two weeks after Facebook received widespread criticism after the suspect in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand,  that claimed the lives of 50 people was able to broadcast the massacre live on Facebook using an action camera attached to a helmet.

The alleged gunman said in a manifesto posted online that he was motivated by "white genocide," a term white supremacists use to describe immigration and the growth of minority populations, and had posted imagery and references to white supremacy and white nationalism on social media and message boards.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday that she welcomed Facebook's move. 

"Arguably these categories should always fall within the community guidelines of hate speech, but nevertheless it's positive the clarification has now been made in the wake of the attack in Christchurch," she said at a news conference in Wellington. 

WATCH | A documentary from The National 's Adrienne Arsenault on the state of white nationalism in New Zealand:

New Zealand mosque shootings: State of white nationalism

6 years ago

Duration 4:28

After the mosque shootings in Christchurch last week, we look at the state of white nationalist and anti-Muslim beliefs in a country known for its social progressiveness.

Wake-up call for tech sector

On Wednesday, a man convicted on state murder charges in the August 2017 deadly car attack at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges. The event prompted tech companies to take a firmer stand against accounts used to promote hate and violence.

But apparently not enough. Now, Facebook is trying to do more. As part of Wednesday's change, people who search for terms associated with white supremacy on Facebook will be directed to a group called Life After Hate, which was founded by former extremists who want to help people leave the violent far-right.

Clarke called the idea that white supremacism is different than white nationalism or white separatism a misguided "distinction without a difference."

She said the New Zealand attack was a "powerful reminder about why we need the tech sector to do more to stamp out the conduct and activity of violent white supremacists."

Rashad Robinson, the president of Color of Change, says the racial justice group warned Facebook to the growing dangers of white nationalists on its platform years ago and that he was glad to see Wednesday's announcement.

"Facebook's update should move Twitter, YouTube, and Amazon to act urgently to stem the growth of white nationalist ideologies, which find space on platforms to spread the violent ideas and rhetoric that inspired the tragic attacks witnessed in Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, and now Christchurch," he said.

Twitter does not currently ban white nationalists or white separatists, though its hateful conduct policy forbids the promotion of violence or threats against people on the basis of race, gender, religion and other protected categories. It also bans the use of "hateful images or symbols" in profile or header images.

YouTube also bans hate speech and says it removes content promoting violence or hatred on the basis of these categories. Amazon has an "offensive products" policy that does not allow the promotion or glorification of hatred, racial violence or sexual or religious intolerance. The three companies did not immediately respond to messages for comment on Wednesday.

Madihha Ahussain, a special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry at the non-profit Muslim Advocates, said what's needed now is more information on how Facebook will define white nationalist content — and how it will enforce its new rules.

"Now, the question is: how will Facebook interpret and enforce this new policy to prevent another tragedy like the Christchurch mosque attacks?" she said.