March 27, 2019

Moments ago, Facebook announced a new policy banning white nationalism and white separatism throughout the platform along with a program that will redirect users who search for white extremist content to a non-profit organization’s website dedicated to reforming white supremacists.

“Our policies have long prohibited hateful treatment of people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity or religion – and that has always included white supremacy,” Facebook said in a statement posted to its website.

In response, Sijal Nasralla, campaigner at SumOfUs,  an international consumer group, released the following statement:

“Facebook’s announcement that it will finally ban all forms of white nationalist and white supremacist content across its platforms is long overdue. White supremacy is terrorism, and as we have seen from the horrific attacks in New Zealand, and has been allowed to fester and grow on platforms like Facebook completely unchecked for too long.

“While this decision is a first step, the question is whether or not Facebook will implement robust enough policies that will enforce living up to their stated goals. We are watching, waiting and planning to hold Facebook accountable for these commitments.”

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SumOfUs.org is a global movement of consumers, investors, and workers all around the world, standing together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable and just path for our global economy.