UPDATED: Facebook updates standards to allow death threats against alleged sexual offenders
Facebook updated its community standards to allow for users to call for “high-severity violence” against sexual offenders, including death threats.
In its ” Do not post” section on its website, Facebook changed its standards in a July update to allow an exception to its “Violence and Incitement” standard for individuals “described as having carried out violent crimes or sexual offenses, wherein criminal/predator status has been established by media reports, market knowledge of news event, etc.”
The exception allows users to make: “Threats that could lead to death” against alleged violent and sexual offenders. Facebook does not require for the threats to be against persons who have been convicted under criminal law.
UPDATED: IT LOOKS LIKE FACEBOOK JUST DELETED THE OFFENSIVE POLICY UNDOUBTEDLY SOMEONE ALERTED THEM WE ARE STILL ON TOP OF THIS
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Many people take the contents of places like Facebook as gospel and would most likely think that if it is a standard on Facebook, then it would be in line with the law everywhere else – at times without even questioning if its legal or constitutional for that matter. Then it leads to thoughts like, threats and violence against a group would be ok in the real world, because we say it’s ok here on the internet.
So let me get this straight. Someone can post death threats about us on FB but we can’t read it or respond to it to take measures to protect ourselves and our families. This is a brand new kind of stupid. If this is allowed to stand I see a registrant or a registrants family member being injured or worse and a big fat law suit coming FB’s way if it’s found out that they had prior knowledge
Attempting to “reason” with business or government via a persuasive argument accomplishes nothing. The only thing that these entities will respond to is a threat of monetary loss subsequent to a judgement against them – that is all. All of the wishing and hoping that they will “do the right thing” is nothing more than a waste of energy. Winning in court is our only way to effect change and the more we win the faster things will change across the country. My position on those who would harm RC has not changed nor should it for anyone else, it will not be tolerated. Their logic will one day cost them much more than they expected and no one will be to blame but them. As far as FB or any person of authority who advocated harm to our families my wish is that if our families are not safe then their families do not deserve to be safe either. Support FAC, keep informed on the changing legislation, and be prepared to make those who wish to do us harm suffer unanticipated consequences.
Be vigilant!
Yes and since we are not allowed to own a gun , we cannot even defend ourselves in our own homes. That is why I have a huge mean satan dog that is 100% legal.
Shouldn’t it stand to reason that Facebook should then allow registrants on their platform to respond to such threats?
What if someone publicly accuses Mark Zuckerberg of a sex crime. Such an accusation would certainly go viral. Wouldn’t he then be banned from his own platform by its rules, whether convicted or not?
Maybe FAC and other advocates should push the DOJ to investigate Facebook for allowing terroristic threats to be made on its platform. Terroristic threats via the internet is a matter of federal jurisdiction. Allowing people to threaten the lives of any other group of people would constitute federal crimes.
@ Bill:
Excellent point. Kicking myself for not thinking of it myself.
Thanks for the warning. There first shot better be a good one. I’m perfectly capable of ripping someone’s arm off and wrapping it around there neck. Put that on your front page Facebook.
How is this legal?
I guess if it is against an SO anything goes. We can’t be on Facebook to communicate with our families, but others are allowed to threaten violence and get away with it. Where is the justice in that.