Hate speech law passed in Germany; social medias to face fine
Social media companies could face fines of €50 million for failing to remove hate speech within 24 hours.
Berlin, July 1: German lawmakers have passed a controversial law under which Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies could face fines of up to €50 million ($57 million) for failing to remove hate speech. The Network Enforcement Act, commonly referred to as the "Facebook law," was passed by the Bundestag, Germany's parliamentary body, on Friday. It will go into effect in October.
In ambiguous cases of the above, network operators have a window of seven days to act. Widespread failure to comply with the new regulation could incur fines of up to 50 million euros ($57 million), Xinhua news agency reported.
Under Germany's prevailing legal framework, hate speech includes the incitement to kill or be violent, threatening speech, abusive language, and sedition.
According
to
the
new
legislation,
network
operators
are
obliged
to
offer
users
an
easily
recognizable
and
immediately
responsive
process
to
lodge
complaints
about
hate
speech.
Social
media
networks
can
pass
the
actual
decision
on
to
a
shared
independent
oversight
body
for
operators
that
is
yet
to
be
created.
Such
an
institution
would
also
be
obliged
to
act
within
seven
days.
The
law
was
passed
with
the
votes
of
Christian
Democratic
Union
(CDU),
Christian
Social
Union
(CSU)
and
Social
Democrats
(SPD),
which
together
form
a
German
coalition
government.
Federal Minister of Justice Heiko Maas (SPD) defended the bill, which he championed as ending the "verbal jungle law" on the internet and protecting everyone's freedom of expression.
"The past has shown: the big firms will not assume their responsibility without pressure," Maas said. The bill caused heavy controversy in the run up to its passing, with a diverse range of social media operators and civil rights and interest groups warning about its purported negative implications.
Alongside British Prime Minister Theresa May, German politicians have called on social media companies to do more to help governments combat terrorism.
IANS