PUNISHING BYSTANDERS FOR PUTIN'S ACTIONS: Facebook, Instagram 'Temporarily' Allow Calls for Violence Against Russian People

Source: The Post Millennial

Published: March 10, 2022

By: Nick Monroe

UPDATE: Meta has since released a statement saying they'd "still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians."

Reuters has since changed their headline to say "invading Russians" in particular.

Original story is as follows below:

Meta’s Facebook and Instagram on Thursday have made changes to their hate speech policy to allow for calls of violence against Russians and Russian soldiers amidst the Ukraine invasion.

EXCLUSIVE Facebook and Instagram to temporarily allow calls for violence against Russians https://t.co/dhcObdoDk6 pic.twitter.com/QVokunNzyx

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 10, 2022

In an exclusive from Reuters, they cite "internal emails" to content moderators about the updated revision. The outlet adds that calls for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will be allowed to stay up on the platform within areas like Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

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The only time the company is said to take action against the aforementioned posts unless they have "two indicators of credibility, such as the location or method."

Ordinary Russians are using @Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. pic.twitter.com/FjTovgslCe

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 25, 2022

At the start of the Russia - Ukraine conflict, The Intercept revealed how Facebook decided to allow praise for the alleged Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, as well. Previously the group was labeled under "Dangerous Individuals and Organizations," which the platform strictly moderates discussions on.

Last week, Meta released a public statement regarding how they were responding to the Ukraine invasion. In response to the crackdown on alleged Russian "misinformation" and the curtailment of outlets like Russia Today and Sputnik News.

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In response, this led to Putin blocking access to Facebook for Russian citizens. It’s unclear how this latest policy change from Meta’s end will factor with that, going forward.

Mutual reactions of shock to the Reuters story have since cropped up:

"Is Facebook, by acting as a sovereign and declaring Russians belligerents should be killed, tagging itself as a participant in a hot war? Has anyone at Facebook thought through this?"

Is Facebook, by acting as a sovereign and declaring Russians belligerents should be killed, tagging *itself* as a participant in a hot war?

Has anyone at Facebook thought through this? https://t.co/97oMvAOz2X

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 10, 2022

"If you're willing to adjust your principles in a crisis, they weren't really principles."

If you're willing to adjust your principles in a crisis, they weren't really principles. https://t.co/DTUPw92kiG

— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) March 10, 2022

"Wait, WHAT?"

Wait, WHAT? https://t.co/5EAL2joXzC

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) March 10, 2022

"thought this was a fake account at first"

thought this was a fake account at first https://t.co/jmJqNaCiw4

— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) March 10, 2022

"Yet Donald Trump is still banned."

Yet Donald Trump is still banned. https://t.co/nmWwOjh4DT

— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) March 10, 2022

Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com

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