Ban racists from Twitter and Facebook, say MPs

[Deleted]

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31246808


Social media users who spread racial hatred should be banned from sites such as Twitter and Facebook, MPs say.

The All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Semitism wants prosecutors to examine if prevention orders like those used to restrict sex offenders' internet access could be used.

The cross-party group also highlighted the use of anti-Semitic terms online.

Last week, a Community Security Trust report said UK anti-Semitic incidents more than doubled to 1,168 in 2014.

The trust - which monitors anti-Semitism in Britain - says this was its highest figure recorded since it began work in 1984.

'Hate crimes'
The Parliamentary inquiry was set up following a rise in incidents in July and August last year during fighting between Gaza and Israel.

The MPs said social media platforms had "increasingly been used for the spread of anti-Semitism".

Their report said the terms "Hitler" and "Holocaust" were among the top 35 phrases relating to Jews during the conflict.

The hashtags "Hitler" and "genocide" featured with "high frequency", it added. The "Hitler Was Right" hashtag trended worldwide in July 2014.


Analysis
By Caroline Wyatt, religious affairs correspondent, BBC News
The rise in violent anti-Semitic attacks last year in the UK was clearly linked to the conflict in Gaza, with some using criticism of Israel's actions as a pretext for hate speech.

Although the Jewish community is deeply integrated into British society, many British Jews say there has always been a low level of underlying anti-Semitism - such as casual, thoughtless remarks - but the rise of hate speech online is new and risks normalizing such sentiments.

Extremist or hate speech against one minority creates an environment in which such sentiments can easily spread to others. So today's call may also be welcomed by Muslim communities, facing what they say is a rise in Islamophobia following the Paris attacks.

Despite all that, the UK is still seen as one of the most tolerant places in the world to live. MPs, peers and others are keen to ensure that remains the case.


The report said: "There is an allowance in the law for banning or blocking individuals from certain aspects of internet communication in relation to sexual offences.

"Informal feedback we have received from policy experts indicates that this is a potential area of exploration for prosecutors in relation to hate crime.

"If it can be proven in a detailed way that someone has made a considered and determined view to exploit various online networks to harm and perpetrate hate crimes against others then the accepted principles, rules and restrictions that are relevant to sex offences must surely apply."


The report also said there was an "unacceptable rise in anti-Semitic incidents" in July and August last year.

It added: "It is for non-Jews to speak out and lead the fight against anti-Semitism with strong action."

It also called for:

A government fund to be set up to cover the costs of security at synagogues
Fresh research on identifying and explaining anti-Semitic language
Guidance for teachers on how to handle the Middle East conflict in the classroom
The report also comes weeks after four people were killed at a Jewish supermarket in Paris.

'Zero-tolerance approach'
Prime Minister David Cameron called the report "hugely important", adding that tackling anti-Semitism went "right to the heart of what we stand for as a country".

Community Secretary Eric Pickles added: "We remain staunchly committed to tackling anti-Semitism wherever it occurs and will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach."

And Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis welcomed the timing of the report, which he said came when the "threat against the Jewish community is real and anxiety remains high following recent events".

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the force had taken steps to provide "additional reassurance" to Jewish communities in recent weeks.

The best way of helping police was to report hate crime, but a wider response was also needed, he said.

"We need society to become as vocally intolerant of faith-hatred as it is of other forms of discrimination, and a clearer understanding of where freedom of speech oversteps the mark."

Meanwhile, a Populus poll accompanying the report also suggested a third of Britons - 37% - believed the problem of anti-Semitism has got worse in the last decade.

In comparison, 16% thought it had got better.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means anti-Semitism is not a problem at all and 10 means it is a serious issue, participants rated it at 4.66.

That figure was largely unchanged from when a similar survey was carried out in 2005.

[Dugna]

Then you get into the fuzzy area of what people deem "offensive" and the whole internet ends up censored. This stuff is stupid and should never happen ever.

[Boathouse]

The problem I see there is that they're trying to fight intolerance with intolerance.

[THE Bigzoman]

If I can't laugh at stupid people than maybe i'm missing the point of social media.

[Fincayra]

I really don't understand why it's always specifically studying "anti-semitism" when it comes to anything racist...

[Belize]

What is racist is really subjective, especially considering how sensitve some people are.

[Mormolyce]

British MPs say a lot of things, it's how they get votes.

But don't be surprised if social media sites get a lot more curated in the future. The internet is not some unmonitored Wild West where anything goes anymore.

[Belize]

I really don't understand why it's always specifically studying "anti-semitism" when it comes to anything racist...

Because everyone has always hated the Jews. Go back as far as you can in written history and you'll see that they're always the ones being blamed for fucking everything.

[Zeta333]

what a bunch of babys this generation has turned into. Ban anything that offends.

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Because everyone has always hated the Jews. Go back as far as you can in written history and you'll see that they're always the ones being blamed for fucking everything.

I remember when the pasion of the christ came out and people were upset because the movie put a bad light on jews. Even though it was a movie depicting what they did....

[Zelk]

The state of this fucking country man

[Deleted]

Bad idea, nobody gives a shit about what is said on social media unless it's a famous person...no reason to filter racism.

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Because everyone has always hated the Jews. Go back as far as you can in written history and you'll see that they're always the ones being blamed for fucking everything.

I kinda dislike jews as well, working at an airport you see how self entitled ignorant pricks the orthodox jews are. The normal jews are ok though.

[GennGreymane]

I think it would be difficult to police, especially since it wont help anyone. They will likely already be on websites dedicated to hate and extremism. If they are not already, they will feel the need to express themselves on such sites. Which could lead more people to these types of organizations. Its better to have it open so we can criticize their views as well, instead of sweeping it under the rug and pretending it does not exist. Its better to have these ideas as dumb as they are out in the open to be scrutinized.

[apepi]

How about lets ban MPs from Twitter and Facebook.

[Deleted]

I think it would be difficult to police, especially since it wont help anyone. They will likely already be on websites dedicated to hate and extremism. If they are not already, they will feel the need to express themselves on such sites. Which could lead more people to these types of organizations. Its better to have it open so we can criticize their views as well, instead of sweeping it under the rug and pretending it does not exist. Its better to have these ideas as dumb as they are out in the open to be scrutinized.

Or in many cases, ignored. The amount of controversy stupid tweets and facebook comments generate relative to their actual impact or relevance is laughable. The outrage gives them an audience, gives them a signal and fuels impotent moral panic.

[Independent voter]

How do you know magazines like Charlie Hebdo have gone too far without Klan and Nazi cartoons to compare to?

[GennGreymane]

Or in many cases, ignored. The amount of controversy stupid tweets and facebook comments generate relative to their actual impact or relevance is laughable. The outrage gives them an audience, gives them a signal and fuels impotent moral panic.

This also. Its honestly so negligible that its pointless. Its when its on the physical plane with vandalism, assault, battery, and more where it needs to be ended. Not some prick with a keyboard.

[Endus]

Without the ability to express racist and bigoted thoughts freedom of speech would mean nothing.

"Without the ability to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater freedom of speech would mean nothing."
"Without the ability to threaten to hunt down and murder people freedom of speech would mean nothing."

Every nation, even the USA, has restrictions on what kind of speech is protected, and what kind is not. Hate speech isn't someone immune from consideration, on the same grounds that threats of violence to individuals and incitement to riot are.

The problem I see there is that they're trying to fight intolerance with intolerance.

This entire argument of yours stems from failing to understand the issue.

It isn't "intolerance" in general that's problematic. Nobody cares if you're lactose intolerant. Or if you can't tolerate Justin Bieber's music. "Tolerance", in terms of social justice, has always been in reference to tolerating people's superficial variations, whether racial, gender, cultural, or what have you.

Being hateful is not the kind of thing that should be tolerated, nor is it one of those superficial variations, so the "you have to tolerate my intolerance" bullshit is an argument predicated on failing to understand the issue of tolerance, in the first place.

[Deleted]

Endus, are you entertaining the notion that insulting a race, a gender identity or a culture should be or could be argued to be not protected by free speech and thus ought to be criminalised?

[Sledfang]

I don't think generalized hate speech should be banned, but I do believe very specific hate speech should be illegal. It depends on how close to incitation it gets. After Charlie Hebdo there was quite a few people online saying they support the act even though they would never do that.

[truckboattruck]

only things endus likes should be tolerated