Our policies on hate speech uniformly applied: Facebook
The HinduFollowing allegation of bias in implementing the company’s own guidelines on hate speech in India, Facebook India Vice-President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan on Friday said the social network platform is “non-partisan” and denounces hate and bigotry in any form. ‘Impartial approach’ Stating that many questions have been raised specifically about enforcement of the company’s policies around hate speech, Mr Mohan said, “There is no place for hate speech on our platform. And the process is dynamic and ongoing based on newly available information or activity.” Mr. Mohan said the company has made significant progress in removing hate speech and other harmful content over the past few years and continues to invest in efforts to combat hate speech on its services, while also adding that Facebook is open to engage with all parties — political or otherwise — who want to understand its content policies and enforcement. Stressing that Facebook follows a transparent policy in developing its policies, the India head said the company does not develop these policies alone and rely on the expertise of both internal teams and external voices, including its community, experts and organizations outside of Facebook such as academics, safety and human rights NGOs, and activists “These policies are ever evolving to take into account the local sensitivities especially in a multicultural society such as India.