Facebook disables 'hate Muslims' group

Facebook disables 'hate Muslims' group

<http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10262136-71.html>

While it stopped short of changing its stance with respect to Holocaust-denial groups on its Web site, Facebook has confirmed that it has disabled a group I brought attention to on Saturday, called "I Hate Muslims in Oz."

"We disabled the 'I Hate Muslims in Oz' group a day or so ago because it contained an explicit statement of hate. Where Holocaust-denial groups have done this and been reported, we've taken the same action," Facebook's Barry Schnitt said in an e-mail Wednesday.

Given President Obama's clear statement that Holocaust denial is "hateful," I asked Schnitt whether the company might be changing its stance on such groups. Previously, Facebook had said that Holocaust denial is not hateful per se and does not therefore contravene the company's terms of service.

"We're always discussing and evaluating our policies on reported content, but have no plans to change this policy at this time. In addition to discussing it internally, we continue to engage with third-party experts on the issue," he said.

Schnitt continued by outlining the parameters of Facebook's third-party content on the site: "Over the next couple of weeks, our chief privacy officer, Chris Kelly, will be engaging with experts at an event on cyberhate at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and at the UN Cyber Hate Seminar in New York.

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