Meta Allows Derogatory Remarks Targeting Races, Nationalities, and Gender Identities
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has recently made changes to its policies, granting users the freedom to post derogatory remarks about races, nationalities, ethnic groups, sexual orientations, and gender identities. This shift includes the suspension of the company’s fact-checking program in an effort to “allow more speech by lifting restrictions.” The new policy changes, as revealed in training materials obtained by The Intercept, illustrate the extent to which insulting and dehumanizing rhetoric is now accepted on the platform.
The training materials highlight examples of permissible speech on Facebook and Instagram, including derogatory statements such as “Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of shit,” “Gays are freaks,” and “Look at that tranny (beneath photo of 17-year-old girl).” Joel Kaplan, Meta’s global policy chief, described the effort as a way to manage content on their platforms more effectively, despite criticism from experts like Kate Klonick, an associate professor of law at St. John’s University.
While Meta claims that the new rules aim to promote ideological dissent and political debate, critics argue that the changes are politically motivated, catering to a particular party. The company’s Community Standards page states that they still protect refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers from severe attacks and prohibit direct attacks based on race, ethnicity, national origin, and other protected characteristics. However, internal materials show examples of derogatory comments that are now allowed under the new policy.
The relaxation of restrictions allows for broad, hateful stereotyping, including generalizations about criminality, terrorism, and superiority. Speech that was previously prohibited, such as insulting remarks about sexual immorality or claims of ethnic or religious supremacy, is now acceptable under the revised rules.
Despite Meta’s efforts to combat hate speech, the company has faced criticism for mishandling hate speech on its platform, with incidents like the role of hate speech in Myanmar’s genocide of Rohingya Muslims. The shift in policy raises concerns about the potential impact of derogatory remarks and the spread of hate speech online.
As Meta continues to navigate the complexities of content moderation, questions remain about the balance between freedom of expression and protecting users from harmful and discriminatory rhetoric. Experts emphasize the importance of addressing hate speech, as it can often escalate to real-world harm and pose serious risks to vulnerable communities.