According to the European Commission, US tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft are procrastinating tackling illegal hate speech that has been posted on their platform. European Commission has therefore demanded the tech giants to pull up their socks before it’s too late.
The Commission has announced on Sunday, that if the companies make any delay to tackle illegal hate speech on their platforms, they will be brought to book under European law.
Earlier this year, in the month of May, the Silicon Valley companies voluntarily signed up to a code of conduct, in which they promised to remove any hate speech that has been posted on their platform within 24 hours of it being posted. This code of conduct was signed post a hate speech that was posted on the platforms following the infamous terror attacks in Europe and the refugee crisis.
According to EU Commissioner for Justice Vera Jourova, only 40 percent of posts are being removed within the timeframe, therefore Commission may be forced to pass laws on the matter.
Jourova told the Financial Times,
If Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft want to convince me and the ministers that the non-legislative approach can work, they will have to act quickly and make a strong effort in the coming months.
Concerned about the security of European citizens, the Commission also noted that there is a significant difference in how the posts containing hate speech are being tackled across Europe. In France and Germany, over 50 percent of posts are taken down, but in Austria the rate drops to 11 percent and in Italy, the rate drops to four 4 percent.
Jourova told Reuters that after 48 hours the figure is more than 80 percent, which shows that the target can realistically be achieved, but this will need much stronger efforts by the IT companies.
The growing apprehension of EU can get the tech giants into trouble. The commission must enact laws on the matter to avoid any carelessness by the companies. For sometimes law and order are imperative for the security of the nation.
