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FACEBOOK In Congress’s Cross Hairs: More Than Meets The Eye

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It is not accidental, nor incidental, that Facebook, the world’s largest social media site and most dangerous censor is in the (Congressional) hot seat. Not only that, the court of (western) public opinion is starting to take notice, irrespective that a smattering of tech giants find themselves in similar cross hairs. Regardless, the fact remains that Facebook, the undisputed social media superstar, enjoys a targeted status all of its own – deservedly so.

For all practical purposes, it has become the de facto Internet since nearly every site connects to it. With that size comes great power – the power to lift up and the power to destroy.

In this regard, it wasn’t until reports started circulating that Facebook was used as a vehicle for Russia’s meddling into the 2016 electoral process that Congress stepped in and took notice. But never mind, this investigative journalist and author (with co-author Joe Newbywho took the megaphone lead, as advised by security contacts) held Facebook’s feet to the fire – well before the news re Putin’s interference entered the fray. Hmm.

Unequivocally, as a matter of stated record, Congress was majorly referenced as a point of redress within BANNED: How Facebook Enables Militant Islamic Jihad -WND Books, September 2016; with special emphasis cited within Chapters Eight and Nine: Legal Obstacles And Possible Solutions, and Possible Political Solutions Obstacles, respectively.

More specifically, even though Facebook’s corporate seal is housed under laws which are meant to protect its business interests, the public’s safety dare not be compromised as a result thereof. In other words, under the U.S. Constitution, there is an inherent right to a free flow of ideas (not to be confused with incitement to kill and terrorize, of which there is no right thereof), thus, it is entirely within the scope of Congress to determine what, if any, governmental oversight is mandatory. In fact, clear violations of free speech are enough of a determinative factor for Congressional intervention, in order to rein in the tech giant. Atop it all, housing Islamic Jihadis within its platform (in whatever capacity) rises to the level of enabling Jihad – if not worse.

Which brings the discussion straight back to the second half of the headline, the subtext, within the implication “more than meets the eye.” To wit, those who are rightly concerned about the dual-based topic at hand: the converging dangers of censorship, coupled with the shielding/enabling of Islamic Jihad, would be advised to pay heed.

THE BULLETIN

Is Facebook facilitating violent Antifa?

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

By Natalia Castro

Facebook has become the gateway to information in the social media world, but with this popularity comes heavy responsibility. As Facebook attracts a global network of billions of users, speech which advocates violence has become prevalent across the site, raising questions on the role Facebook plays in moderation.

Ultimately, Facebook is allowed to have an editorial bias under the First Amendment, just like any media outlet. The problem erupts when the “openness” model of Facebook promotes the growth of violent ideology; despite clear community standards against violence — Facebook says it “remove[s] content that expresses support for groups that are involved in the violent or criminal behavior” — these rules can be difficult to enforce, giving users the responsibility of reporting abuse.

As Joe Newby and Adina Kutnicki explains in Banned: How Facebook Enables Militant Islamic Jihad, “In June 2014, Islam Exposed (The Truth about Militant Islam), was unpublished after Facebook claimed the page included pornographic content… Page administrators sent a letter to Facebook that contained screen shots of the page to prove that no such content existed… Facebook yanked the page but restored it, claiming that it was the result of a mistake. At that time, page administrators received death threats from critics but those threats were dismissed by Facebook. Instead of dealing with the threats leveled at administrators, Facebook chose to tear the page down, citing ‘harassment.’ In short, Facebook punished the victims for being threatened.”

This occurs consistently with groups in ranging ideologies. Newby and Kutnicki continue to explain that Britain First, a right of center political party with 1.1 million supporters, had their page pulled with no explanation. Facebook restored the page, only after the groups established “an immediate legal fund to drag Facebook through court” under the claim they violated their supporter’s freedom of speech and expression.

Facebook has also come under fire after a 2016 Gizmodo report uncovered that Facebook algorithms and curators often suppress conservative sources in favor of “neutral outlets” like the New York Times and CNN, Facebook pledged the solve the problem and even donated $62,500 in cash to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

While certain political viewpoints are running into problems — likely due to abuse of the reporting feature — others that appear to be violating Facebook’s own community standards against violent ideology are still allowed on Facebook.

Newby and Kutnicki provided the example of a Facebook page promoting the beheading of infidels, stating, “When we Muslims take over America, you infidels will show respect or die.”

Following public outcry, the page was eventually removed from Facebook. Yet due to the openness of Facebook groups that promote violence can continue to take advantage of the site as a tool for recruitment to their ideology and ultimately their cause. Some facets of Facebook can even help maintain their anonymity and protect these groups from exposure.

Like Antifa. These groups are hiding in plain sight. Facebook has three types of groups: public, which anyone can see the group, its members, and their posts; closed, anyone can find the group and see who is in it but only members can view posts; and secret, only members can find the group, see who is in it, and see posts.

Despite Facebook’s model for open and interactive communication, these closed and secret groups can become a hotbed for fostering radical violent ideology without suppression or oversight.

One Antifa group has a closed group with 4,824 members. The description explains that the group connects the international so-called “anti-fascist” community for easy communication and information sharing.

Pages such as Berkeley Antifa even write on their page, “While we truly appreciate all the love shown to us through our Facebook page, we ask that our supporters refrain from liking or commenting on any of our posts… We hide all comments made to this page in order to minimize risk for all involved. If your comment is hidden, it will still be visible to you and your friends. We encourage you to continue to share our posts and pass them around to your friends… If your Facebook account is truly privatized, liking posts made to leftist/antifascist pages is not nearly as much of a risk.”

A number of other closed Antifa groups can be found rather easily on Facebook. Why they are still there after all the violence is a good question.

For example, considering 13 members of the group were just arrested at Berkeley University for charges ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to obstructing a police officer as part of an organized violent protest against peaceful conservative demonstrators, it is clear these closed groups are fueling violent principles under the radar.

The American people are at a dynamic crossroads with this issue as well. A poll by the Center for Security Policy/Eagle Forum/McLaughlin & Associates shows 85 percent of the American people support free speech, while 63 percent oppose Antifa for their violent acts against free speech. They don’t agree with shutting down unpopular views, even racist ones, with violence or censorship.

This could put companies like Facebook in a delicate position. As Rick Manning, President at Americans for Limited Government explains, “The fact that the First Amendment maintains broad support across America clearly shows that freedom runs through the very DNA of the American people, and those who seek to undermine basic freedoms or provide aid and comfort in that effort, do so at their own political peril. Private companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Paypal need to proceed cautiously as they consider becoming arbiters of appropriate speech on the Internet, because if Americans believe that they have relinquished their neutrality, they will lose their dominance to market alternatives.”

This creates the compelling question in the information age as to where the responsibilities of Facebook begin and end. Do closed groups being used by violent actors like Antifa violate Facebook’s guidelines? It is hard how to see they don’t.

As the publicly traded Facebook with over $490 billion market cap continues to grow, these questions must be addressed.

In order for Facebook to remain credible it must continue proving that it is committed to being an unbiased and secure network where the marketplace of ideas can flourish. On the other hand, how it handles violent speech from radical groups is an ongoing question. How about addressing Antifa? That would be a good start.

Natalia Castro is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.

Yes, as mentioned, “more than meets the eye.” So, stay tuned for further developments.

In light of the above (and much more), is it unfair to label Facebook “the world’s most dangerous censor?” If not, why not?

UPDATE: as always, leave it to the fascist left (within Congress, no less) to exploit the real dangers surrounding the above, as they zero in on MORE censorship, in response to Facebook’s (and the rest) out of control behavior, including, enabling Islamic Jihad!

{MEMO: FB’s censors are limiting the sharing of Adina Kutnicki: A Zionist & Conservative Blog! Indeed, the following message from FB’s censors is crystal clear:

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