Facebook Tells Holocaust Survivors Denial Pages Can Stay

Earlier this month, 21 Holocaust survivors affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center issued a plea to Facebook asking them to deny access to anyone promoting the idea that the Holocaust was a hoax reports the Jewish Chronicle Online.

In the letter sent July, the survivors wrote:

We are writing to you to protest Facebook’s policy that categorizes Holocaust denial as “free speech,” rather than the shameless, cynical and hateful propaganda that it is.

Followed by:

Do not permit Holocaust denial any platform on Facebook to preach its inherent message of lies and hate. By allowing this hate propaganda on Facebook, you are exposing the public and, in particular, youth to the anti-Semitism which fueled the Holocaust.

Despite the plea from survivors, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes told MSNBC in an email, that one of the toughest questions they have to deal with is how to handle the sharing of controversial ideas and opinions. Noyes wrote that while Facebook finds these groups to be "repugnant and ignorant" after a considerable amount of time discussing issues of Holocaust denial, they concluded that "the mere statement of denying the Holocaust is not a violation of our terms."

This is not the first time the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which runs The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, has taken issue with Facebook. In 2009, the human rights group told The Sunday Times, that the rise of social networking sites like Facebook have accelerated the spread of racist and bigoted views, and asked Facebook to remove pages that allegedly promote hatred against Jews. And in 2008 the group sent a letter to Jewish CEO Mark Zuckerberg headlined: "Do Not Serve as a Platform for Hate," again addressing offensive pages.

Facebook has, however, removed pages in the past. CNN reported that in March the social networking site agreed to remove group page entitled the "Third Palestinian Intifada" that encouraged Palestinians to take up arms against Israel, after the Israeli government appealed to Facebook. The page, which garnered more than 350,000 "likes," was removed because it contained direct calls for violence, explained Facebook.

Comments

[Angela Horne]

04:21 AM on 08/01/2011

there is a big difference fact and opinion

[YafoDalet]

10:04 PM on 07/31/2011

Shame on Facebook!

[cweinbl]

12:22 PM on 07/31/2011

Freedom of the press is a critical factor in an open society. Yet what would happen if Holocaust deniers were successful? Generations from now, our progeny could find themselves committing genocide, because they won't have had the benefit of learning from real history.

As a Holocaust researcher and published author, I know that Holocaust deniers are closet anti-Semites, if not open Jew-haters. They ignore, twist and turn the facts of history to remove culpability of Nazi Germany or to persuade the world that somehow Jews deserved their fate. In some cases, they actually blame Jews for the Holocaust.

When genocide is at stake, we must protect our children and grandchildren. They must learn the truth about past genocides in order to avoid making the same mistakes. In the worlds of philosopher and writer George Santayana, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Let's make sure that our progeny learn the truth about history, not something fabricated to make Jews appear evil, complicit or mendacious. We should show the world that religious, racial, ethnic and gender persecution is wrong; and that tolerance is our children's only hope. Only through such efforts can we reveal the true horror of genocide and promote the triumphant spirit of humankind.

Charles Weinblatt
Jacob’s Courage
http://jacobscourage.wordpress.com

[dubbleplusgood]

05:13 PM on 07/30/2011

Never thought I'd say this but Facebook made the right call here. Freedom of speech means protecting exactly those things we disagree with or are offended by. Hate speech laws are ridiculous and dangerous. If someone is spreading a bad idea, spread a better one.

[YafoDalet]

10:05 PM on 07/31/2011

Have you re-read your comment before posting? So, you are saying that if a call to kill people because of their ethnicity is appealing to enough people it must be right. Just listen to yourself!

[dubbleplusgood]

12:44 AM on 08/01/2011

You win the daily straw man argument award. Congrats!

[down the hatch]

10:59 PM on 08/01/2011

I think you should reread it yourself. Taking down a page because it urges its members to engage in actual, physical violence is a planet away from taking down a page because its members hold (albeit ridiculous) opinions which differ from the vast majority and even from actual fact. Some people honestly believe that the Earth was created six thousand years ago by a supernatural being, but advances in science put an end to that debate long ago. Facebook can't be reasonably expected to take down every page just because people don't approve of its message.

[DefunctRepublic]

02:57 PM on 07/29/2011

While Holocaust denial is asinine, repugnant, odious, noxious, sinister and downright hateful, I fall on the side of letting those deniers speak their mind. Why? Because in the open arena of free expression, we get to listen to whatever message and pass reasonable judgement on it. I believe that allowing hate speech actually helps to condemn it, because the overwhelming majority will rebuff sentiments of hate like holocaust denial, neo-nazi parades, ku klux klan rallies and the like, and condemn them unequivocally for what they are: absurd, hateful, ignorant, poison.

[Shain Eighmey]

09:03 PM on 07/29/2011

I agree, allowing them to have their speech does help to condemn it as absurd, ignorant, and hateful. I'm more comfortable with that where I can see it though, because it is going to exist no matter what anyone does.

[Celebrindan]

10:07 AM on 07/30/2011

Keep the Facebook pages, and keep an eye on who these jackasses are.

Let them 'self-identify'.

When antisemitic acts happen, you'll have a perfectly trimmed database of usual (but not too bright) suspects to start from.

It's like the fools on the '10 Most Wanted' list getting together and helping the FBI correct factual errors in the list itself.

Why look a gift-horse in the mouth?

[SamSeven]

02:21 PM on 07/30/2011

Gee why dont you go out in arrest them then?

Would you like the same actions done to you?

[GaddafismyHero]

02:30 PM on 07/29/2011

There are allot of holocausts like the Holocaust with the 27 million Soviets that the Germans massacred, and the Nanking Massacre, but you don't hear of them do you ?

[Shain Eighmey]

09:04 PM on 07/29/2011

Sure you do. Where are you listening if you're not hearing about that?

[Celebrindan]

10:13 AM on 07/30/2011

There are many, many, (some of them Academy Award winning) pictures of intense drama and emotion, about the Jewish Holocaust, and there are a couple of old, grainy footage documentaries about the Rape of Nanking.
Not sure about the scorched earth policies of Stalin, I think it's been mentioned.

[dm559]

02:26 PM on 07/29/2011

******************I believe the Holocaust happened!!!!!*************** (wanted that to be known so people don't think I feel otherwise) but I also believe people are entitled to their opinion and to affiliate with those who think the way they do just as the believers have the right to gather.

[Caru]

11:10 AM on 07/29/2011

Facebook has deleted others "free speech". Why not this?

[Trisha J Green]

01:07 PM on 08/03/2011

Facebook has admitted to deleting "free speech" that incites violence. As long as this form of free speech is within the terms of Facebook's conditions, there isn't much that can be done. Besides, why get rid of it? Because you don't like it? Deleting the speech you don't like just because you don't think it's appropriate is rather self absorbed and detrimental to the entire 1st amendment. We need to allow bigots the right to talk so we may retain our rights to rebut it.

[DrSnuggles]

10:49 AM on 07/29/2011

There are really two arguments that are taking place here; there is the question of whether Facebook is run by a bunch of incomprehensible weirdos? (foregone conclusion somewhat) and the question of how Holocaust denial should be treated? Obviously, the latter is a more interesting question.

From a legal standpoint, as many commentors below have pointed out; the first amendment does not apply as Facebook is not government and hence has every right to ban or not ban anything on it's website.

However, free speech is not a concept that is unique to the Constitution; so we can argue about the concept itself if not the law as its applied.

[Bike Commuter]

10:44 AM on 07/29/2011

Looking at this another way. Considering Facebook masses information on its members and is perfectly hand it over to whoever, it is probably helpful that they allow these people to congregate on the "social network". I am sure the FBI appreciates anything that makes it easier to keep track of these types of fringe groups.

[Shain Eighmey]

10:32 AM on 07/29/2011

Oh the Holocaust Hoaxers or as I like to call them "The 'Maybe most of the Jews in Poland just decided they wanted to go on a really long vacation and left without telling anyone?' Party" They employ a level of logic that could cast doubt on the sun rising this morning while they're itching a sunburn.

[Bike Commuter]

10:51 AM on 07/29/2011

Normally it would be scratching a sunburn, but with HoIocaust deniers it may be backwards. ..... Love the play on words with the micro bio. Similar to mine.

[FaceTheTruth00]

10:29 AM on 07/29/2011

I'm kind of torn. There is free speech, then there is hate speech.

Does facebook allow the Klan to maintain a page? What about Al Qaeda?

[dubbleplusgood]

05:18 PM on 07/30/2011

hate speech is a made up term that can be used against anyone. hitler believed in free speech too, as long as you said what he wanted hear, you were free to speak.

[SimonBao]

10:22 AM on 07/29/2011

This seems indefensible, and seems to make Facebook worthy of a whole of lot of abuse.

If a website is going to ban *some* content, it seems that Holocaust Denial should surely be included in any bans.

Facebook has forced the removal of other less toxic, less damaging and harmful content, so they cannot claim to be consistent with any kind of policy.

And please, no "free speech" arguments. The First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech apply to the government, not to a for-profit website that already prohibits certain content.

[dubbleplusgood]

05:18 PM on 07/30/2011

what have they banned?

[SimonBao]

09:14 AM on 07/31/2011

Seriously?

Go here, and read about Facebook and Censorship and then weigh what Facebook already censors against their decision to NOT prohibit Holocaust Denial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook#Censorship_controversies

[Scott Henley]

10:08 AM on 07/29/2011

Let the "Hoax" Pages stay. Do we really not have enough evidence that this does not matter any longer? Yes, it is painful for "Survivors" to read this, but the truth is on their side. The evidence speaks Volumes.... All these people have are words, and Pictures speakk a 1000 words.... I'd say we, the believers and people who have seen it first hand should simply allow these peoiple to say whatever makes them feel good... This is just another example of Satan at work......

[eva07]

07:09 PM on 07/31/2011

"survivors"?

[Djay0252]

09:57 AM on 07/29/2011

All of world war 2 was the entire holocaust and anyone who lived during that time period is a survivor.

[myopinion2]

02:36 PM on 07/29/2011

No.

Systematic murder of a people is distinct and differeent. Trying to erase the holocaust of the Jewish people and just mixing it in with the "ordinary" war casualties is in its own way a denial of the holocaust.

[manikajo]

09:52 AM on 07/31/2011

You are right. The war came to stop the atrocities. I have family members who were there and saw the "truth". Denial is just ignorance showing itself.