Facebook (FB.O), Twitter (TWTR.N), Google’s (GOOGL.O) YouTube and Microsoft (MSFT.O) on Tuesday agreed to an EU code of conduct to tackle online hate speech within 24 hours in Europe.
EU governments have been trying in recent months to get social platforms to crack down on rising online racism following the refugee crisis and terror attacks, with some even threatening action against the companies.
As part of the pledge agreed with the European Commission, the web giants will review the majority of valid requests for removal of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to the content if necessary.
They will also strengthen their cooperation with civil society organizations who help flag hateful content when it goes online and promote “counter-narratives” to hate speech.
“The recent terror attacks have reminded us of the urgent need to address illegal online hate speech. Social media is unfortunately one of the tools that terrorist groups use to radicalize young people,” EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said.
Germany got Google, Facebook and Twitter to agree to delete hate speech from their websites within 24 hours last year and even launched an investigation into the European head of Facebook over its alleged failure to remove racist hate speech.
“There’s no place for hate speech on Facebook,” said Monika Bickert, Head of Global Policy Management at Facebook.
The code of conduct is largely a continuation of efforts that the companies already take to counter hate speech on their websites, such as developing tools for people to report hateful content and training staff to handle such requests.
Twitter has suspended over 125,000 accounts since the middle of 2015 for threatening or promoting terror acts, primarily related to Islamic State.
The United States has undertaken similar efforts to entice the cooperation of tech companies in combating online radicalization, focusing on promoting “counter-narratives” to extremist content.
Just when people need the government most, is when you will find politicians at their sleaziest.
Over a month after Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico, about three-quarters of the Island is still without power.
But rather than respond in the best interest of citizens, the government engaged in a crony deal with an inadequate energy company. Puerto Rico gave a $300 million contract to rebuild their power infrastructure to the company Whitefish Energy.
The public later learned that the company only planned to send 300 employees to the island. With such a small crew, it would take years to fully restore power to Puerto Rico.
Whitefish Energy is based in the small Montana town of Whitefish. A local news station visited the headquarters and found that it was based out of a rural residence.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is also from the small town of Whitefish, Montana. He denies that he had anything to do with the contract.
Zinke is already embroiled in a handful of other scandals, involving chartering expensive flights with tax dollars, and attending donor events while on duty, which means he paid for travel with tax dollars.
We still don’t know how exactly the two-year-old company Whitefish landed the no-bid contract. But it is quite clear that it is not because of their ability as a company. For starters, the company only has two full-time permanent employees. The company has never worked on a project with the magnitude of rebuilding Puerto Rico’s power structure.
The contract has now been canceled by Puerto Rican authorities, but that decision takes 30 days to go into effect. In the meantime, the company will receive $30 million for already completed work.
Puerto Rican officials, however, have wasted precious time and resources. The controversy is expected to delay the restoration of power to Puerto Rico by over a dozen weeks.
The great irony of situations like these is that when the government is most needed, they take the most advantage. In a crisis, the government could shine by quickly helping the people affected. But instead, they all too often prove just how untrustworthy they are.
Some people think of government as an insurance policy. You may not need much government protection on a daily basis, but what about when disaster strikes? Who will rescue the people?
This is one of many examples that shows much of what government does is make-believe. They offer a false sense of security. It is all for show. They talk big, and present themselves as important. But when it comes time to act quickly in order to avoid human suffering, they reveal the true nature of government. That nature ranges from corruption to incompetence.
It is unfortunate that the taxpayers are robbed of their hard earned money to pay for sweetheart deals like the absurd contract awarded to Whitefish. That leaves less money for individuals to take matters into their own hands.
Four major quakes have hit New Caledonia in the South Pacific in the last 24 hours, yesterday a magnitude 6.8 quake struck 137km E of Tadine, this morning three more major quakes struck the same area, small tsunamis have been observed.
The question now is, are these major quakes after-shocks or fore-shocks of something bigger to come?
It is the first time this year four major quakes have occurred in just over 24 hours and the first time four major quakes have hit the same area in such a short time since 2011 when the mag 9. which hit Honshu Japan causing the Fukushima disaster.
Once again the major quakes came as a large Coronal hole opened up on the Sun while facing the Earth and significantly before the Solar wind hit the Earths magnetosphere which is expected to tomorrow.
Today's quakes take the total of major quakes in November to 3 and the yearly total to 88.
As a large Coronal Hole opened up in the southern part of the Sun's atmosphere facing Earth yesterday a major quake was on the cards, which was predicted here.
Today's quakes take the total of major quakes in November to 3 and the yearly total to 88.
As a large Coronal Hole opened up in the southern part of the Sun's atmosphere facing Earth yesterday a major quake was on the cards, which was predicted here.
The solar wind being ejected from the hole on the Sun should reach Earth some time on the 2nd of November.
Solar wind flowing from this southern coronal hole should reach Earth on Nov. 2nd, possibly causing magnetic unrest around the poles. Credit: NASA/SDO.
Polar auroras and magnetic unrest are likely when the gaseous material arrives and we could witness major quakes up to the arrival of the solar wind on the 2nd of Nov.
Polar auroras and magnetic unrest are likely when the gaseous material arrives and we could witness major quakes up to the arrival of the solar wind on the 2nd of Nov.
New Caledonia is currently experiencing enhanced seismic activity. After the M6.8 earthquake on Halloween, a swarm of strong and shallow quakes is rumbling the same area, east of Tadine, on November 1, 2017:
M 6.1 – 109km E of Tadine, New Caledonia
M 6.6 – 103km E of Tadine, New Caledonia
M 6.0 – 110km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia
M 6.6 – 103km E of Tadine, New Caledonia
M 6.0 – 110km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia
The strong and shallow quakes occurred within 5 hours at a depth of 10km (6.2 mi) on November 1, 2017.
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