Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube Must Do More to Combat Hate Speech, Says EU

Advertisement
By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 7 December 2016 17:49 IST
Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube Must Do More to Combat Hate Speech, Says EU

Internet giants Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube are not doing enough to fight online hate speech despite "moving in the right direction", the European Commission said on Tuesday.

All four signed an EU code of conduct in May aimed at combatting Internet hate speech.

"It is our duty to protect people in Europe from incitement to hatred and violence online," European commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality Vera Jourova said.

(Also see: Web Giants to Cooperate on Removal of Extremist Content)

"This is the common goal of the code of conduct. The last weeks and months have shown that social media companies need to live up to their important role and take up their share of responsibility when it comes to phenomena like online radicalisation, illegal hate speech or fake news.

Advertisement

"While IT Companies are moving in the right direction, the first results show that the IT companies will need to do more to make it a success."

The four IT companies had committed to review notifications of potential hate speech within 24 hours.

Advertisement

But the Commission noted in a report published on Tuesday that among 600 notifications made, only 28 percent led to the removal of content while just 40 percent were treated within 24 hours.

(Also see: Curbs on Extremist Online Content Threatens Free Speech, Say Tech Firms)

Another 43 percent were reviewed in under 48 hours.

Advertisement

The notifications were sent to the IT companies by a group of 12 NGOs from nine different countries who analysed notification responses over a six week period.

YouTube reviewed notifications within 24 hours on more than 60 percent of cases while Twitter managed that on just 23 percent.

YouTube was also most active in removing content on 48 percent of cases compared to Twitter's 19 percent.

Facebook reviewed 50 percent of cases within a day and removed content on 28 percent of notifications. Microsoft did not receive any notifications.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. 5 Must-Have Samsung Products Every Student Needs in 2025
  1. Webb Telescope Uncovers Hidden Active Galactic Nuclei
  2. SpaceX Starship Flight 9 Reuses Booster, Gathers Key Data Despite Loss
  3. 7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
  4. SpaceX Aims to Break Launch Record With 170 Orbital Liftoffs Planned for 2025
  5. Scientists Capture Plasma Streams, Coronal Raindrops in Sharpest-Ever View of Sun’s Corona
  6. The Traitor OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch Uorfi Javed, Karan Kundra Starrer Reality Show Online?
  7. Nizarkudai Now Available for Streaming on Aha Tamil: What You Need to Know
  8. Big Ben OTT Release: When and Where to Watch Malayalam Movie Online?
  9. Akkada Ammayi ikkada Abbayi Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
  10. Vaanil Thedinen Now Streaming on Aha Tamil: Everything You Need to Know
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.