Facebook on misinformation: We don't remove content for being false

Even as the world painfully takes notes of dangers of fake news spread on social media platforms, Facebook has said that it does not remove content simply for being false.

AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / REPRESENTATIONAL

San Francisco: Even as the world painfully takes notes of dangers of fake news spread on social media platforms, Facebook has said that it does not remove content simply for being false. While the social network platform has in place rules against hate speech and takes personal attacks seriously, false content does not face censorship on its platform, Monika Bickert, Facebook's Head of Global Policy Management said on Thursday while participating in "Hard Questions", a series that explores the most challenging issues Facebook confronts. "We don't allow hate speech on Facebook because it creates an environment where people feel personally attacked, where they won't feel comfortable coming and sharing themselves," Bickert said. "The one thing that we don't remove is where someone simply asserts something false," she said, adding that Facebook tries to counter the virality of such content or tries to promote or make visible other views. "Even if it is a horrible assertion of falsity, whether it's about the Holocaust or any other world even, we don't remove content simply for being false," Bickert added. The statement bears significance at a time when rumours on social media platforms have been linked to real-world violence in several countries, including India. Facebook, Bickert said, also considers local regulations while blocking content on the platform. "And we also block the speech where countries have told us, 'this is illegal in our country', then we will remove that speech in that country alone," she said.