20 People ‘Smash’ Facebook Office For Slow Removal Of Racist Hate Speech


Up to 20 people attacked Facebook’s office building in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday. According to local authorities, some signs point toward the vandalism being retaliation for the social media giant’s removal of racist hate speech being too slow.

The small mob dressed entirely in black, wearing hoodies, was reported by Reuters to have “smashed glass, threw paint, and sprayed ‘Facebook dislike’ on a wall.” No direct motive has been made clear so far. However, managing director of Facebook in “north, central, and eastern Europe,” Martin Ott, is currently under investigation for failing in the removal of hate speech from the platform.

The investigation follows German chancellor Angela Merkel pushing the social media giant to get tougher on the removal of (you guessed it) hate speech. Merkel would like to set up a taskforce with Facebook, “other social networks and internet service providers” in order to streamline information so offensive posts can be taken down “more quickly.” Facebook, however, responded to the investigation stating, “the allegations lack merit and there has been no violation of German law by Facebook or its employees.” It also claims to have partnered with FSM – a group that “voluntarily monitors multimedia service providers” – and said it would “encourage its users to push back against racism.”

While Facebook professes taking its own initiative on the matter of monitoring hate speech, as well as its removal, the company hasn’t exactly gone out of its way to cooperate with Merkel or her would-be taskforce – hence the still rather fresh investigation announced only a month ago.

And lo and behold, Ott’s base of operations happens to be right there in Hamburg, too.


Coincidence?

Ott better watch it, or racist hate speech may soon not be the only removal from Facebook.

Fortunately, after all was said and done related to the attack, Facebook stated no one was injured in the incident — proof furthermore that corporations are, in fact, not people.

Featured image by zeevveez via Flickr.