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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It looks to me that Facebook REMOVED, not added, the exception, because the lines through the sentences meant (strikethrough) means the language was removed.
The current version does not contain that exception.
Of course, this also means that Facebook has had that exception until recently, and who knows for how long. This explains why so many vigilante groups like No Peace For Predators is allowed to proliferate on Facebook.
when FB just recently got called out on it publicly in a newspaper they quickly changed it
Doesnt FB ban so’s from having accounts and if they find out they will cancel the account, so if someone makes death threats and we report them FB will just cancel our accounts.
The problem with this action is that most people do not know what a sex offender can mean. In this time of social media, a minor (under 18) can send a pornigraphic picture to an adult male (over 18) and he can be charged as SO. May have never even met her let alone touched her. Another scenario, a minor girl hooks up with a boy telling him she’s over age. Then gets pissed if he doesn’t do what she wants him to and calls the police. All it takes is her word for him to be a sex offender for the rest of his life. People just need to realize how often and easily this happens.
Exactly Jean……unfortunately when “sex offender” is read or heard their minds conjure up the MOST horrific scene, most just do not know there are different scenarios that are being called “sex offender”. Or that many are not actually “guilty” of anything…..we have not progressed very far from the middle ages, Salem Witch Trials come to mind…Puritans……
Sex stings is the most illegal use of creating sex offenders as not only is there no one underage but no one is ever met to create an offense. This is the most illegal use of the law to create sex offenders.
Sidney
I agree completely. Recently more laws have been enacted to make police more accountable for their actions like wearing cameras. Where is this same accountability to law makers. They destroy people’s lives by labeling them sex offenders when that is a lie . To be a sex offender there has to be someone they offended. They try to get around it by giving it numbers , like class 1, 2,3 or 4. That is insanity. Either it’s a sex offense or not . Child sexual abuse has been defined as when someone uses a child to satisfy his or her own sexual desires. It could include sexual intercourse ,oral or anal sex, fondling of genitalia, breasts . Or buttocks, or other perverted acts. A victim is someone who was sexually abused.
When no one was abused there can be no sex offense crimes. Where is the accountability to prosecutors and judges. Are they not accountable to follow their own definitions of laws.
Where are the statistics showing how many on the registry are really sex offenders or have even committed a sex offense.by their own definition.
I think Facebook should be charged with aiding and abetting violence. Let Zuckerberg get hit with a class action suit.
Being a dick shouldn’t make you rich.
Excellent job Face Book!! You just proved Judge Richard Matsch’s ruling regarding SO registration laws in Colorado.
Matsch found that Colorado’s registration act poses a “serious threat of retaliation, violence, ostracism, shaming, and other unfair and irrational treatment from the public” for sex offenders and their families.
Terms of use may now allow death threats, but law does not. A death threat can still be investigated by authorities. Facebook will now allow people to incriminate themselves out in the open.
I already hear the cynic saying, “you really think law enforcement will try to prevent harm to a sex offender”? But they follow up on threats to various ppl at various times, and now Facebook provides detectives with an additional tool.