Yahoo Finance Facebook to give free advertising to anti-terror groups
Facebook will give free advertising to anti-terror groups in an attempt to counter extremism after it was accused of allowing radical propaganda to flourish online.
The social network will today promise a new crackdown on hate speech and videos glorifying violence with a UK-focused “counter speech” campaign.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, said there was “no place for hate or violence” on Facebook and that “we all have a part to play” in fighting terror.
Facebook will give groups including the Jo Cox Foundation and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue advertising credits to promote their messages to individuals that might be at risk of radicalisation.
It is hoped that the adverts will be able to counter a barrage of extremist propaganda, which have come into focus after recent attacks in London and Manchester.
Terrorist groups including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) have tried to exploit Facebook and other social media sites to recruit impressionable users, and internet companies have been accused of failing to address the problem.
“No one should have to live in fear of terrorism, and we all have a part to play in stopping violent extremism from spreading,” Sandberg said.
“There is no place for hate or violence on Facebook. Partnerships with others – including tech companies, civil society, researchers and governments – are a crucial piece of the puzzle.”
As well as providing free advertising to non-profit groups, Facebook says it will fund research into the best way to fight terror online and train organisations on how to respond to it.
Facebook has come under pressure to do more to address extremism and hate speech. A report from MPs earlier this year accused social media firms of putting profits before users’ safety by not removing material more quickly. This week, Theresa May promised to “stamp out extremist and hateful ideology” online.
