Facebook and Instagram will reportedly allow posts urging violence against Russian soldiers and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Reuters reports that Meta Platforms is allowing the temporary change to their hate speech policy.
The report indicates “users in some countries” will be allowed “to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the Ukraine invasion.”
The information is based on internal emails obtained by the news outlet.
One email from a Meta spokesperson states: “As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as ‘death to the Russian invaders.’ We still won’t allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians.”
They are also temporarily allowing some posts that call for death to Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
JUST IN – Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram allow users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the Ukraine invasion.https://t.co/NJ4dqrv6hU
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 10, 2022
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Facebook Says Calls of Violence Against Russia Are Okay
As one might imagine, the prospect of having social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram pick and choose what are acceptable threats of violence and calls for death shocked many.
The idea almost seems like something you’d see in the Babylon Bee.
To be clear, only certain countries are allowed to make these posts. Fox News lists those countries as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
Tablet Magazine’s Noam Blum was a bit dismayed over the idea that some hate speech is acceptable on social media platforms.
What the actual fuck is wrong with the world? https://t.co/0xoReaPKee
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) March 10, 2022
Nation columnist Jeet Heer tweeted the tough but fair response, “If you’re willing to adjust your principles in a crisis, they weren’t really principles.”
“Yet Donald Trump is still banned,” lamented Newsweek opinion editor Josh Hammer.
Others half-joked the move would provide cover to Democrats in the next presidential election cycle.
Change “Russians” to “Republicans” and you have a headline you’re likely to read during the 2024 presidential election campaign. https://t.co/pgP6yZJgJT
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) March 10, 2022
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Temporary Violence
Facebook’s ‘Violence and Incitement’ policy explains why calls for violence are typically unacceptable on their platform.
“We remove content, disable accounts and work with law enforcement when we believe there is a genuine risk of physical harm or direct threats to public safety,” the policy reads.
Just not in this particular case, for this particular amount of time, in these particular locations.
Listen I’m no expert but if I’m former leader of the free world Donald Trump I’m definitely asking some questions about my accounts given this new policy. https://t.co/GdJAFczpkR
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) March 10, 2022
In an updated statement, Meta expanded upon their policy change.
“In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, we made a temporary exception for those affected by war, to express violent sentiments toward invading armed forces such as ‘death to the Russian invaders,’” they said.
“These are temporary measures designed to preserve voice and expression for people who are facing invasion,” a Meta spokesman added.
“As always, we are prohibiting calls for violence against Russians outside of the narrow context of the current invasion.”
Russia wasn’t pleased with the move by Meta. On Friday they opened up an investigation into the company and declared them an “extremist organization.”
The Russian state prosecutor’s office responded, “Such actions of the company’s management not only form an idea that terrorist activity is permissible, but are aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards the citizens of the Russian Federation.”
