NPR

With Facebook Ban On White Extremism, International Norms Apply To U.S.

Facebook is beginning to enforce a ban on white nationalist content this week. The move comes as Australia, Germany and other countries pass tough laws to curb hate speech.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the company's annual developers conference in San Jose, Calif., May 1, 2018. Facebook is beginning to enforce a ban on white nationalist content.

The U.S. has long exported its culture abroad — think Coca-Cola, Hollywood and hip-hop. Facebook was once praised for spreading free-speech values. But the world is pushing back with different values, which Facebook is importing to the U.S. with the company's ban on white extremist content.

The ban goes into effect worldwide . Experts and advocates who've long lobbied Facebook to pull potentially dangerous speech saythe move — which is wrapped up in the U.S. culture wars — is the result of international pressure forcing the company's hand.

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