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Facebook Removes Two Holocaust Denial Groups

by Tom Samiljan on May 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM

Facing increasing bad publicity and pressure from members and Web denizens, Facebook yesterday confirmed the removal of two Holocaust denial groups from the social networking service. The groups -- "Based on the facts...there was no Holocaust" and "Holocaust is a Holohoax" -- were aimed at folks who for some inexplicable reason seem to think the Holocaust never happened.

According to an e-mail Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt sent to CNET's Technically Incorrect, the two groups were removed earlier his week, but three Holocaust denial groups -- "Holocaust: A Series of Lies", "Holohoax," and "Holocaust is a Myth" -- are still active (and remain that way as of the writing of this post). Facebook has been reluctant to remove these kinds of groups in the past, citing its commitment to free speech.


Schnitt also said in the same e-mail:

"We are monitoring these groups and if the discussion among members degrades to the point of promoting hate or violence, despite whatever disclaimer the group description provides, we will take them down. This has happened in the past, especially when controversial groups are publicized"

Case in point? Facebook took down a British KKK group just last week. (Check out our gallery of 'Banned Facebook Groups' below for more examples.)

Earlier this week, the closing of a breast-feeding group for new moms due to indecency was criticized by lactivists and those demanding the closure of Holocaust denial groups. As a result of the subsequent noise around this bit of hypocrisy, Facebook took some action, but it seems as though more action is in order. A quick search of 'Holocaust' on Facebook revealed plenty of other groups seem to be picking up where the banned groups left off ("F*&K Israel and Their Holocaust Myth BullSh*t," with 17 members so far, is just one).

If Schitt's e-mail is to believed, it would seem as though Facebook will take down any hate-group that gets publicity, so the unfortunate truth is that we have to give these groups attention in order to take them down. Ironic, perhaps, but also the way it's always been when loud, hate-filled minorities try to ruin the party for everyone else. Let's just hope that in this latest case, and in those that follow, there is such a thing as bad publicity and that it actually leads to a bad outcome (a.k.a., the closing down of Facebook hate groups). [From: CNET]

Banned Facebook Groups

    Facebook is a great venue for humiliating oneself with ranting and raving, but, like most things, people can take things too far. Give someone a soapbox (or in this case, a Facebook group) and there are sure to be others crazy enough to follow them. Here are some examples of Facebook groups that crossed the line and were banned from the site.

    Assasinate Evo Morales
    Here's a good way to get your group banned -- call for the assassination of a political leader. Titled 'Global Collection to Hire a Sharpshooter to Liquidate Evo Morales' was taken down by Facebook since it bans threatening violence. No surprises here.

    Getty Images

    Surrey, BC Terrorist Group
    A Facebook group supporting the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist organization, was taken down by Canadian Police. Authorities were tipped off to the group because its page depicted a young person holding a prohibited gun, which was eventually traced back to 49-year old Bahadur Sandhur. Police seized it and two others when they investigated his home.

    Dead Babies Group
    Facebook took down a group called 'Dead Babies Make Me Laugh' after the UK Sun was flooded with outraged calls and emails. A running joke on campuses, the group included fake anecdotes about killing babies, but mothers weren't laughing even though the group was created and classified as being "just for fun."

    I Need Sex Group
    Laura Michaels of Bristol, England, created a Facebook group called 'I Need Sex.' According to the UK Sun, the group had more than 100 members after being up for only one hour. Michaels claims to have ended up sleeping with 50 of the group's members -- literally half of the group. Facebook opposes this type of personals-ad use, so the group was taken down.

    KKK group
    Facebook recently shut down a group called the 'Isle of Man KKK.' The group called for the elimination of newcomers from the UK island and featured a picture of a hooded Ku Klux Klan member. Thankfully, Facebook's terms of service prohibits content that is hateful or threatening.

Tags: anti-semitism, banned, bans, facebook, facebookgroups, hategroups, top

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