The promise of Google and Facebook: remove hatred within one day – Aftonbladet

Posts containing hate and threats will be deleted. And it should not take more than 24 hours.

This is the meaning of an agreement such as Facebook, Google and Twitter reached with the German government.

– Social media can not become a safe haven for extreme right says the country’s Minister of Justice Heiko Maas.

Germany has become known as one of the most open countries in the acute refugee crisis. But the large number of refugees has led to increased racism in German society. This applies at least not at least on the Internet. According to German media, the number of hateful messages on social networks has recently increased.

Should be deleted promptly

Heavy German politicians have criticized above all Facebook to racist attacks must remain at the site.

But in a new agreement promises Facebook along with Google and Twitter to delete posts with hate and threats within 24 hours.

– Social media can not become a safe haven for the extreme right, says Germany Attorney General Heiko Maas told the BBC.

– When free speech limits are exceeded, when it comes to criminal statements that threaten people, then such deleted from the Internet.

Easier to notify

According to the minister, the German law form the basis of the assessment of the posts to be deleted.

– There will no longer be that it is up to the terms of use for each social network, says Maas.

The agreement will also make it easier for users to report inappropriate content. The complaints will then be examined by the special teams.

Can come to Sweden

Ehsan Fadakar is responsible for social media strategies in Schibsted Publishing, part of the Norwegian media group that owns Aftonbladet. He has participated in several conferences as Facebook invited to. Which include management of hateful and racist material discussed.

– This agreement has its origin in an investigation against a senior manager at Facebook launched in Germany to hatinlägg not been removed. Facebook has realized that it would have ended badly, and one hopes that precede it in this way.

According Fadakar agreement may spread to Sweden and other countries.

– The required for the process to get started is really just to police reports filed against social networks, he says, and continues:

– Facebook has long acted as a publisher in that they determine which material should get noticed. But they have not wanted to take responsibility as a publisher. This is a step in a more responsible direction.