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In a World First, Facebook To Give Data on Hate Speech Suspects To French Courts (reuters.com) 116

Facebook said it has agreed to give the names of French users who are suspected of using hate speech on its platform to the local courts when requested. The deal is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. From a report: The decision by the world's biggest social media network comes after successive meetings between Zuckerberg and Macron, who wants to take a leading role globally on the regulation of hate speech and the spread of false information online. So far, Facebook has cooperated with French justice on matters related to terrorist attacks and violent acts by transferring the IP addresses and other identification data of suspected individuals to French judges who formally demanded it. Following a meeting between Nick Clegg, Facebook's head of global affairs, and Cedric O (France's minister for digital affairs) last week, the social media company has extended this cooperation to hate speech. "This is huge news, it means that the judicial process will be able to run normally," O told Reuters in an interview. "It's really very important, they're only doing it for France."
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In a World First, Facebook To Give Data on Hate Speech Suspects To French Courts

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  • by sinij ( 911942 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @01:47PM (#58829738)
    What about data of users who are suspected of blasphemy? I am sure a number of Sharia courts would happily issue such requests.
    • Always remember, Facebook, like all corporations, has one and exactly one agenda: To make as much money as possible for the people at the top.
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by glitch! ( 57276 )

      What about data of users who are suspected of blasphemy?

      Look. I-- I'd had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was, 'That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.'

      • Look. I-- I'd had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was, 'That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.'

        Blasphemy! He's said it again!

    • Blasphemy and hate speech is the same.

      I am sure a number of Sharia courts would happily issue such requests.
      Sure they would, but they had no legal base.

      • by sinij ( 911942 )

        Blasphemy and hate speech is the same.

        They are to religious people.

        I am sure a number of Sharia courts would happily issue such requests.
        Sure they would, but they had no legal base.

        Yes they would, at least according to Sharia Law.

        • by guruevi ( 827432 )

          Sharia law is the law of the land in the EU, their Supreme Court agreed fairly recently with the notion that offending Islam is hate speech and therefore can be suppressed. And there are plenty of portions of Paris where police are no longer in control and Sharia courts effectively rule the population.

          • by Anonymous Coward

            as a french dude, that might be the stupiest thing i read this year
            france is one of the most agressive country concerning secularity (we actually invented the term) and french law will always be put first before any religious beliefs;
            showing signs of religion is actually forbiden to teachers and any states representants (like cops)
            as for your example : peoples who actually try to hold a sharia court (or even force their kids into a religious school not authorised or under surveillance from the state ) would

          • And there are plenty of portions of Paris where police are no longer in control and Sharia courts effectively rule the population.
            That is nonsense.

    • What about data of users who are suspected of blasphemy? I am sure a number of Sharia courts would happily issue such requests.

      Facebook can either do business there and follow the rules, or it can not do business there, or it can do business there, flaunt the rules, and have some of its employees stoned (not the good stoned) and/or beheaded. If it chooses not to do business there, then someone else will take their place, and surely they will be just as willing to share that data when required by law.

      Meanwhile, social media can be used to send covert messages using codes, so it's still useful to any resistance.

      • Facebook can either do business there and follow the rules, or it can not do business there

        That is NOT what this is about. Of course Facebook is required to follow court orders and obey search warrants. This is about FB voluntarily giving authorities additional private information about their users.

        A basic principle of human rights is that if the police want information of a citizen, they can go to court and make their case to a judge and get a warrant.

        Facebook is helping to flush that right down the toilet.

        • by Cederic ( 9623 )

          This is about FB voluntarily giving authorities additional private information about their users.

          When a judge makes a formal demand I'm not sure where the word 'voluntarily' gets involved.

          But yes, Facebook are indeed volunteering not to be held in contempt of court, locked up or transported to Angola to work in a mine.

    • It's not just Sharia courts... The European Court of "Human Rights" has upheld blasphemy laws being enforced in EU countries, as long as you call it hate speech or 'disparagement of religious precepts'.
    • What about data of users who are suspected of blasphemy?

      Going against the narrative is considered blasphemy by those that blindly believe the narrative.

  • The law has a long reach, and it even applies to the UK and Scotland.

    Yes, we are coming for you.

    No, you can't hide.

    • by Impy the Impiuos Imp ( 442658 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @01:57PM (#58829794) Journal

      People who took advantage of censorship powers already once "came for the UK and Scottland", and got as far as the English channel. It cost the world dearly.

      They cheer your desire to censor. So do any dictator wannabees playing the long game. The problem is the power to censor, not who is in power doing the censoring. Thinking the votes of The People will keep it in line is whistling past the graveyard. Hint: Past democracies failed when The People voted emergency powers over their rights to their leaders, who never gave it up.

      • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

        by cayenne8 ( 626475 )
        Can someone tell me exactly what HATE speech is?

        I don't believe there is any such thing, there is just speech.

        I know this article is more about France, but I'm talking US here in my case.

        I mean, of course, actual incitement to violence is illegal.

        But expressing opinions, whether popular or not, should not in any form be illegal or so called banned 'hate speech'.

        I suppose hate speech might qualify if it is always prefaces with "I hate.....".

        But even that is an opinion and should not be censored or aga

        • I mean, of course, actual incitement to violence is illegal.
          Wow you just recitated the definition of hate speech. Was not that hard, or was it?

          • Wow you just recitated the definition of hate speech.

            Your definition, not those saying they are censoring hate speech. They have a different definition.

        • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

          I can give you the legal definition. It's speech that incites or causes others to hate people based on their religion, race, sexuality, gender etc. The bar is pretty high, people saying homosexuals will go to hell or that apostles should be punished with death seem to get away with it.

          That's part of the problem with it. Can't write down an exact definition, it's ultimately up to a jury.

          • by martinX ( 672498 )

            I think you mean "apostates".

          • by epyT-R ( 613989 )

            That's part of the problem with it. Can't write down an exact definition, it's ultimately up to a jury.

            well at least you admit that much. The juries in such kangaroo courts are there to keep the witch hunts going...gotta keep reminding people that their neighbors are their enemies in order to justify perpetual tyranny. This is all under the guise of 'social justice' of course.

            • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

              I don't "admit" anything, my opinion was always that it was a poor system and a generally flawed idea.

              You seem to have assumed I would support it. Your arguments would be better if you didn't make such assumptions.

          • by Cederic ( 9623 )

            That's strange. The exact legal definition is indeed written down and someone's kindly posted it on the internet so that you can read it too.

            https://www.legislation.gov.uk... [legislation.gov.uk]

            To be fair, that one covers racial hatred. Do your own research to find other forms of hate speech.

    • by epyT-R ( 613989 )

      Yup, and, historically, the wannabe tyrants like yourself were among the first to be purged.

    • by guruevi ( 827432 )

      It will happen in the US too if the current crop of Democratic hopefuls get their way. They're already talking about regulating Facebook which is likewise inviting it. Google brass recently talked about subverting the elections for the same reason.

  • by Anonymous Coward

    Praise the Zuckerborg who determines what is hate and what is false information!

  • by fustakrakich ( 1673220 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @01:58PM (#58829800) Journal

    to take a leading role globally on the regulation of all speech and the spread of information online that disputes government propaganda.

    "Hate" and "false" are mere marketing terms

    • ..and its France right now because the yellow vests can't be stopped any other way.
      • Oh yeah, forgot about them. Yes, they would be the target of this.

        Oh well, Myspace is still up, right? I'm sure they'll protect the users' privacy...

  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @02:05PM (#58829836)

    So when they say they're fighting "false information", does that mean they're hoping to stop the spread of information that is factually incorrect, or will this target information sources that would go against something like Google's "ML Fairness" standard, where the information is factually correct, but unpleasant or inconvenient to admit, or saying the opposite is preferred?

    • or advertisers. Basically anything that disrupts profits. That's all. Nothing more, and nothing less.
  • by WolfgangVL ( 3494585 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @02:13PM (#58829884)

    Called it almost a decade ago. It's only a matter of time before these platforms turn on the users. Such a wealth of info on so many misbehaving users.

    • Called it almost a decade ago. It's only a matter of time before these platforms turn on the users. Such a wealth of info on so many misbehaving users.

      Users are their bread and butter, but government have the ability to take their bread and butter away. Every corporation has to decide where on the scale they stand, from totally on the side of their users (those that give to them), to on the side of governments (those that take from them) in hopes of maximizing their revenue (highest net income when the givers and takers are balanced).

  • by tinkerton ( 199273 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:34PM (#58830456)

    I suppose the kind of hatespeech which powerful people will get up in arms about is hatespeech against powerful people/groups/countries by people who have got a good reason for it.
    not hatespeech against those at the bottom of society. That'll be safe.

    • Feeling outraged about abuse of power? Better shut up, it is illegal to voice that in anything but the most softspoken manner.

  • Hate speech is anything that anyone could take offense to, for any reason. The official definition is:

    Speech that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

    This is so loose that if I was to criticize a religion, for something that is factually wrong, such as Adam / Eve, that would be hate speech towards that religious group. Other insane examples that would qualify:

    1. "I don't believe in white supremacy.", would actually insult white supremacists and since Caucasian's are an ethnic group that makes it hate speech.
    2. "I think it's wrong to invent / make

    • Obviously your layman explanation:
      Hate speech is anything that anyone could take offense to, for any reason.

      And the "official definition":

      The official definition is:
      Speech that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

      Contradict each other. The official definition is pretty clear. It has nothing to do if you yourself feel offended.

      • attacks, threatens, or insults

        Attacks... sure... threatens... sure... insults?

        Its not those things AND insults, its those things OR insults.

        I feel insulted every time you comment. Think about that.

        • Right, so that would make every comment a form of hate speech, regardless how it was intended, which oddly enough proves my point.
          • Hate speech has nothing to do with anyone feeling offended.

            Either you speak/publish stuff which is not allowed by the law or not.

            Plain and simple.

            All your examples are nonsense. You are mixing it up with defamation and libel. In such cases you can sue if you feel offended.

            If something is hate speech is brought up by the sate attorney, not by you, and if it is indeed hate speech is decided by a court, judge, not by you or the attorney or the police.

            No idea what you want to prove with your long threat, you ar

            • No idea what you want to prove with your long threat, you are an idiot?

              If I invent a religion, which I can do at any moment, for any reason and with any rules I want that religion to have, and that question insults my new religious belief, then it's indeed hate speech, as it would fit the definition, which is:

              speech that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

              Given that definition, which is from Websters, if you insult me or cause me offense, based the things that I can invent, gender or religion, then it's hate speech. Otherwise, if you think that's wrong then you need to clearly layout what genders and what religions are i

              • and that question insults my new religious belief, then it's indeed hate speech,

                No it is not. Stop repeating yourself. You made perfectly clear, that yo don't grasp the concept of hate speech.

                Otherwise, if you think that's wrong then you need to clearly layout what genders and what religions are included, and even go as far as to outline exact what beliefs in those religions / genders can count towards it.
                No I have not ... that would be ridiculous.

                • You would absolutely have to define what genders are scoped, because to quote the dictionary:

                  a similar category of human beings that is outside the male/female binary classification and is based on the individual's personal awareness or identity.

                  This means I can just invent what I feel like and it's becomes a gender. If I say I feel like a soda can, which is intentionally ridiculous, then you can't say anything to which I could take insult, or feel threatened over, based on my new gender, regardless of how ridiculous my new gender is. If you scope what genders that hate speech can apply to, then the problem goes away, because you could (but shouldn't), s

      • They don't contradict each other at all, because religion and gender can be all invented randomly based on how a person feels or simply because they want to invent one. However no point on taking my word for it, I'll just grab the definitions from the dictionary:

        Religion:

        1) a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
        2) a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

        3) the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

        4) the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

        5) the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

        6) something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

        Religion: something you make up, and just believe, that doesn't have any supporting evidence or facts to defend it. I could believe a fork created the universe, and that's a religion. If you then dismiss my bat shit crazy fork idea, t

    • I assume you know your points 1. till 6. are completely bollocks?


      The point is that almost anything can be hate speech, because the definition isn't tight enough to limit the scope to meaningful isolated points.

      Actually it is, as you already GAVE THE DEFINITION, no idea what is wrong with you.

      • No, 1 - 6 are valid examples, but I'll go over them for you.

        1. "I don't believe in white supremacy.", would actually insult white supremacists and since Caucasian's are an ethnic group that makes it hate speech.
        2. "I think it's wrong to invent / make up sexual assault allegations.", could insult men or women, making it hate speech.
        3. "I think it's wrong to beat / rape women.", insults almost every religion on earth, making it hate speech.
        4. "I think raping children is wrong.", insults many religions, including Christianity, making it hate speech.
        5. "I don't like pasta.", hilariously, insults Pastafarian's, making it hate speech.
        6. "I don't regard Trump as a God.", insults people who think it's a religious leader, if they just invent a religion, making it hate speech.

        1) IF you were a white supremacist (which makes you an idiot) and I tell you that I disagree with your points, and that insults, or offends you, because you're Caucasian, it's hate speech. Being Caucasian gives you an ethnic group and if I offend anything you believe or think, that you think because of ethnicity, that's hate speech, regardless if you can defend it or not. Having to defend the points that insult or offend you, is not part of the

        • 1) IF you were a white supremacist (which makes you an idiot) and I tell you that I disagree with your points, and that insults, or offends you, because you're Caucasian, it's hate speech.
          No, it is not. Why would it?

          2. Being male, female, or other, would align with a gender identification, so if I say ANYTHING which would could offended or insult you because of that, it's hate speech.
          No, it is not. Why would it?

          3. Christianity clearly says you can not only beat your wife / female slave, you should keep fema

          • Lets review the definition, which we'll keep going back to, because it's absolute.

            Hate Speech:

            speech that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

            Free expression of opinion isn't excluded in hate speech, and I would totally agree that it should be, but it's not.

            Have you heard of Islamophobia? If I exercise my freedom of expression and tell a woman wearing a Hijab to take it off for the sake of getting a picture taken at a government office, that would qualify as both free expression and hate speech, because she will, almost certainly, feel insulted or

            • All your examples are free expression of opinion and not hate speech.
              And all cases of hate speech are handled in a court of law. There is no inquisition.

    • by Livius ( 318358 )

      Some people will think this ridiculously hyperbolic.

      I wish they were right, but they're not.

  • Zuckerberg and Macron, who wants to take a leading role globally on the regulation of hate speech and the spread of false information online.

    It seems Macron would like to take any global leading role to escape its low popularity at home.

  • ... something outside the control of any individual, organization or state.

    So we need to develop and popularize alternatives to facebook, youtube, google, ... that can't be easily controlled, regulated or blocked.

    I mean something like the Freenet Project:
    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

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