It seems like everyone in Germany is piling on Facebook these days. The social media giant is being blamed for attacks against migrants and for facilitating neo-Nazi activity. "Facebook must act!" is the rallying cry. Any posts expressing hate against foreigners must be extinguished, commenters punished, right-wing accounts banned.
Today's FAZ has yet another broadside against Facebook:
Ein Netzwerk, das behauptet, es sei kein Ort für Rassismus, darf auch kein Ort für Rassismus sein. Wer mit einer Milliarde Nutzern pro Tag protzt, darf nicht den Dreck von einer Milliarde Nutzern unter den Teppich kehren. Denn der Dreck bleibt nicht unter dem Teppich. Er bleibt an allen kleben: an Werbekunden, deren Angebote nun neben Nazi-Hass blinken, und an Normal-Ottos. Vor allem aber an den Flüchtlingen, die ein Recht darauf haben, nicht beschimpft und bedroht zu werden, nicht in Heidenau und nicht auf Facebook.
Nora Bossing, a novelist whom I like very much, writes in Die Zeit that there needs to be limits on freedom of expression in the Internet - and Facebook must DO SOMETHING about it:
Ein Algorithmus mag politisch indifferent sein, ein Unternehmen aber besteht aus Menschen und Meinungen, und diese können nur glaubhaft bleiben, wenn sie auch Verantwortung übernehmen – nicht nur für das, was innerhalb der Konzernstrukturen stattfindet, sondern umso mehr auch für das, was mit den von ihnen geschaffenen Strukturen überhaupt erst ermöglicht wird. Wie auch immer die Unterredung zwischen Maas und Facebook verlaufen wird, es sollte etwas juristisch Konkretes dabei herauskommen und nicht bloß salbungsvolle Entschuldigungen mit Verweis auf indische Korrekturleser und US-amerikanisches Recht. Eine Inszenierung, bei der lediglich Facebook sein Image wieder aufpolieren darf, braucht es nicht. Man kann nur hoffen, dass das innerhalb des Konzerns eingesehen wird, denn der ist leider zu mächtig, um sich etwas diktieren zu lassen – auch wenn es dringend nötig ist.
The editors of the news site NRZ conducted a test whereby they reported a video of a neo-Nazi giving the Hitler salute to Facebook and then waited to see how long before the post was taken down. Facebook didn't take the video down and stated that the content did not violate its guidelines:
Das Unternehmen räumt laut Medienberichten Fehler bei der Löschung von rassistischen Inhalten ein. "Es ist bedauerlich, dass gelegentlich Fehler gemacht werden. Wir wissen, dass dies frustrierend sein kann", sagte ein Sprecher. Er erklärte, dass für das Löschen von rassistischen Inhalten nicht die deutschen Mitarbeiter zuständig seien, sondern Teams im Ausland. Diese suchten nicht gezielt nach Einträgen mit fremdenfeindlichem Inhalt.
(According to media reports, the company admits it has made mistakes in taking down racist content. "It is unfortunate that some mistakes have happened. We know it can be frustrating," said a spokesman for Facebook. He explained that the German employees of Facebook are not responsible for deleting racist content, but rather teams located abroad. They are not specifically tasked with seeking out posts that are hostile to foreigners.)
I'm not in favor of censoring content on the Web. I know that there are laws in Germany against displaying the Nazi salute, but I oppose those laws. We allow hate speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution in the United States - even Holocaust denial is permitted. I would rather the hate be out in the open for everyone to see and condemn. German democracy is strong enough to tolerate that.
Besides, Facebook is used to organize aid and support to the refugees, and for organizing the demonstrations against the neo-Nazis. Keep Facebook open and free! (BTW, I do not have a FB account)
Facebook sperrt selbst Hetz-Video mit "Hitler-Gruß" nicht | NRZ.de - Lesen Sie mehr auf:
http://www.derwesten.de/nrz/wirtschaft/digital/mit-schrotgewehr-ins-fluechtlingsheim-ist-fuer-facebook-okay-id11035158.html#plx1173949045
Facebook sperrt selbst Hetz-Video mit "Hitler-Gruß" nicht | NRZ.de - Lesen Sie mehr auf:
http://www.derwesten.de/nrz/wirtschaft/digital/mit-schrotgewehr-ins-fluechtlingsheim-ist-fuer-facebook-okay-id11035158.html#plx1173949045
Facebook sperrt selbst Hetz-Video mit "Hitler-Gruß" nicht | NRZ.de - Lesen Sie mehr auf:
http://www.derwesten.de/nrz/wirtschaft/digital/mit-schrotgewehr-ins-fluechtlingsheim-ist-fuer-facebook-okay-id11035158.html#plx1173949045
"German democracy is strong enough to tolerate that."
As much as I hate to agree to our politicians and media, but it isn't. Small wonder, given the fact that it is constructed so ineffectively. Which in itself is no surprise, since we all know who drafted our constitution right after a bloody conflict, right?
Those who thrive on this system are afraid and thus will continue to battle free speech fiercely. The Facebook case clearly indicates this. In the news we often hear sentences like "politicians are moving against Facebook which still adheres to the more intensive freedom of speech common to America". Is this supposed to be a joke? A long time ago I was told there is only freedom of speech or none. But I guess those worthy successors of the DDR would disagree.
Imagine people would be allowed to praise the Third Reich and wear party uniforms again? How long would it take before uniformed people would be seen marching on every public spot in provinces in the East? It would run a course similar to Hungary, is my bet.
Fear will drive our established media (in no small part owned by our established political parties, surely a coincidence in itself) to continue the propaganda barrage we have seen in the last few weeks.
Just look into UK media and you will find commentaries critical to giving in to the refugee avalanche. Not so in Germany, where in a country of 80 million all established journalists (save those compelled to silence?) agree heartily that we must save the world.
Oh and by the way, I don't have a FB account either :D
Good that I read this one before finishing my lines. Allows me to go to bed still smiling, after this long post.
Posted by: Zyme | September 05, 2015 at 08:30 PM
" given the fact that it is constructed so ineffectively"
The Grundgesetz has been the cornerstone of freedom in Germany for 70 years. What would you change, Zyme?
In terms of criticism of the "open door" policy for migrants, it appears that the CSU has been pretty vocal in attacking the chancellor.
Or, you could join with Sahra Wagenknecht and put pressure on the United States to take them. After all, the crisis is the fault of the "Amis" - just like every other problem on the planet.
Posted by: David | September 06, 2015 at 05:52 PM