Quantcast
SECTIONS
Opinion
Mewe Share

Social Media Companies To Sign Pledge Letting France Define 'Hate Speech'

Reuters Wire By Reuters Wire
Published August 24, 2019 at 12:14pm
Mewe Share

France said it was optimistic that U.S.-based social media platforms including Facebook and Snapchat would still sign a pledge to fight online hate speech despite a last-minute delay.

France, which is hosting the G7 summit in Biarritz, was initially hoping to make social media giants sign a so-called “Charter for an Open, Free, and Safe Internet” on Friday, according to the official program.

However, the ceremony did not take place and Europe 1 radio said U.S. President Donald Trump had put pressure on the platforms’ chief executives not to sign the pledge publicly. Washington later denied any such pressure.

France’s junior minister for the digital industry said on Saturday the signing had only been delayed and would take place on Monday.

“The initial idea was to make the platforms come to Biarritz and until now, the United States was against the signature of this pledge,” Cedric O told reporters.

“Diplomatically, it was sensitive to make U.S. platforms come to Biarritz and sign something while the American president wasn’t there,” he said, adding that Google, Facebook and Snapchat were among the platforms due to sign the charter.

“There’s no doubt on the fact that the social networks will sign the pledge,” Cedric O said.

In Washington, however, a senior Trump administration official said the U.S. government did not have a position on the initiative and had not pressed U.S. companies not to sign.

In fact, the opposite had occurred, the official said.

Should American companies not sign?

“There certainly was no pressure from us,” the official told Reuters. “We heard from a couple of companies that they felt bullied by France to join.”

The official said the industry had banded together to water down the initiative. The White House, meanwhile, was still evaluating it. “It certainly has its merits,” the official said.

The charter aims to create a collective movement guaranteeing transparency and cooperation for the safe and positive use of the Internet, the French G7 presidency said.

It builds on the Christchurch call by widening the scope of commitments made by platforms, particularly in terms of taking down content, moderating, ensuring transparency and supporting victims.

Submit a Correction





Mewe Share
Reuters Wire
Curated and edited selection of real-time Reuters coverage of the world's financial markets, political capitals and conflict zones.









BREAKING: Three Hurt During Chaos and Panic at Atlanta Airport After Convicted Felon's Gun Goes Off
BREAKING, After Long Search Police Find Remains 'Consistent with' Gabby Petito in Wyoming
Three More Bodies Found As Search Resumes After Demolition of Miami-Area Condominium Overnight.
Trailblazing Female Pilot Will Go to Space at Age 82 with Jeff Bezos
Liberal and Conservative Supreme Court Justices Smack Down New Jersey Over Federally Approved Oil Pipeline
See more...

Recently Posted

Tap here to add The Western Journal to your home screen.
×