Facebook censors Declaration of Independence for hate speech

Stevicus · Jul 6, 2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...m_term=.b94abf55d547&wpisrc=nl_az_most&wpmk=1

The small newspaper, based out of Liberty, a Texas town of 75,000 outside of Houston, planned to post the Declaration of Independence on Facebook in 12 daily installments leading up to the Fourth of July — 242 years since the document was adopted at the Second Continental Congress in 1776.

But on the 10th day, the Vindicator’s latest installment was removed by Facebook. The company told the newspaper that the particular passage, which included the phrase “merciless Indian Savages,” went against its “standards on hate speech,” the newspaper wrote.

The story about how Facebook had censored one of the United States’ founding texts on the grounds that it was hate speech has traveled around the world. And it is another glaring example of how the mechanisms that tech companies use to regulate user content — many of which involve algorithms and other automated processes — can result in embarrassing errors.

After learning of the error, Facebook has since restored the post. Apparently this isn't the first time something like this has happened:

Facebook has come under the microscope for removing some content in the past, including the famous photo from the Vietnam War that depicts a naked child running away after a napalm attack. As The Post’s Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tracy Jan wrote, “Moderators have deleted posts from activists and journalists in Burma and in disputed areas such as the Palestinian territories and Kashmir and have told pro-Trump activists Diamond and Silk they were ‘unsafe to the community.'”

Stinnett wrote that he saw some irony in the episode.

“This is frustrating, but your editor is a historian, and to enjoy the study of history a person must love irony,” Stinnett wrote. “It is a very great irony that the words of Thomas Jefferson should now be censored in America.”

Earthling · Jul 6, 2018

I love the twists and turns of all this. Thomas Jefferson being censored for hate speech. Freedom, equality, hate, censorship, America, patriotic ignorance of history.

Lyndon · Jul 6, 2018

the American government was founded on racist and sexist principles, that's a fact.

icehorse · Jul 6, 2018

Lyndon said:
the American government was founded on racist and sexist principles, that's a fact.

That's such a half truth.

I would say that our founding fathers took huge steps in the right direction and of course they didn't create a perfect society.

fantome profane · Jul 6, 2018

icehorse said:
That's such a half truth.

Just on its own, that sentence struck me as really funny.

But I do agree with your post.

Stevicus · Jul 6, 2018

I think the other thing that struck me about the article was this part:

Stinnett said the episode was a reminder that the newspaper “has become dependent, perhaps too dependent,” on Facebook.

“Some Vindicator stories posted on thevindicator.com attract thousands of page views, but usually only after links to them are shared on Facebook,” Stinnett wrote.

This is telling, that a media outlet has become "perhaps too dependent" on Facebook. Most of them out there have a Facebook link so people can share the links on Facebook. A lot of media outlets don't even let people comment on articles unless they do so using their Facebook account.

So, if a lot of media are becoming "too dependent" on Facebook, that would appear to be a problem.

Cacotopia · Jul 6, 2018

Facebook is retarded now, starting last December, I have been Fb jailed 7 times. 5 of those times I would contest but since you are in Fb jail, you conveniently can't make contact with anyone. Even facebook. And the report button is so easily abused that if anyone doesn't like what you say it's another ban for another 30 days.

And to top it off it's nearly impossible to know what can be considered bannable material to post, yes there is some stuff that is obvious, but a photoshopped picture of tide pod oreos? Yes I got a 30 day sentence for that picture.

9-10ths_Penguin · Jul 6, 2018

icehorse said:
That's such a half truth.

I would say that our founding fathers took huge steps in the right direction and of course they didn't create a perfect society.

The American colonists did have some legitimate grievances, but a major reason - and maybe the most important reason why the Declaration of Independence happened when it did - was defense of slavery.

The Somerset decision in 1772 put British colonies on notice that the days were numbered for slavery in the British Empire. This gave American slavers and their defenders the motivation to get out of the British Empire before slavery was abolished.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_v_Stewart

... so in some important ways, the Declaration of Independence was a step backward for liberty.

tytlyf · Jul 6, 2018

What's the big deal? Facebook's automated system flagged certain words that happened to be in the DOI. The automated system doesn't know it's the DOI. Post has been restored

Kangaroo Feathers · Jul 6, 2018

Stevicus said:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...m_term=.b94abf55d547&wpisrc=nl_az_most&wpmk=1

After learning of the error, Facebook has since restored the post. Apparently this isn't the first time something like this has happened:

Remember last year how loads of Trump supporters accused NPR of a deliberate attack on Trump when they read it out? Seems it's either a controversial document, or there are stupid people every where. My money is on both.

Augustus · Jul 6, 2018

icehorse said:
That's such a half truth.

I would say that our founding fathers took huge steps in the right direction and of course they didn't create a perfect society.

18th C government in not living up to 21st C liberal values shocker!

Historians today reacted in amazement when recently uncovered documents were found to show that people in the past held attitudes that would now be considered outdated.

"MLK will be turning in his grave to think that his courage and visionary leadership of the civil rights movement had absolutely no effect whatsoever on these 18th C gentlemen" said scholar Roger Flump. "It also astounds me that they seem completely oblivious to the #metoo movement despite its current high profile" .

Revoltingest · Jul 6, 2018

Augustus said:
18th C government in not living up to 21st C liberal values shocker!

Historians today reacted in amazement when recently uncovered documents were found to show that people in the past held attitudes that would now be considered outdated.

"MLK will be turning in his grave to think that his courage and visionary leadership of the cvil rights movement had absolutely no effect whatsoever on these 18th C gentlemen said scholar Roger Flump. "It also astounds me that they seem completely oblivious to the #metoo movement despite its current high profile" .

Oniony.

The Hammer · Jul 6, 2018

Stevicus said:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...m_term=.b94abf55d547&wpisrc=nl_az_most&wpmk=1

After learning of the error, Facebook has since restored the post. Apparently this isn't the first time something like this has happened:

Pretty sure Facebook auto-removes posts containing key phrases etc, an algorithm, it is not the companies fault if it removes something automatically, but rectifies it as FB did, by restoring the post. Don't see why this is a big deal.

Phantasman · Jul 6, 2018

I censored Facebook back in 2010.

Twilight Hue · Jul 6, 2018

Lyndon said:
the American government was founded on racist and sexist principles, that's a fact.

When you really think about it what country isnt?

Stevicus · Jul 6, 2018

Verdant Nebulosity said:
Pretty sure Facebook auto-removes posts containing key phrases etc, an algorithm, it is not the companies fault if it removes something automatically, but rectifies it as FB did, by restoring the post. Don't see why this is a big deal.

Well, it's not really that big a deal.

idav · Jul 6, 2018

tytlyf said:
What's the big deal? Facebook's automated system flagged certain words that happened to be in the DOI. The automated system doesn't know it's the DOI. Post has been restored

Pretty much, algorithms haven’t replaced human common sense.

idav · Jul 6, 2018

Verdant Nebulosity said:
Pretty sure Facebook auto-removes posts containing key phrases etc, an algorithm, it is not the companies fault if it removes something automatically, but rectifies it as FB did, by restoring the post. Don't see why this is a big deal.

I’m not surprised the declaration would be flagged by algorithms after all it is a statement of anarchy.

Twilight Hue · Jul 6, 2018

idav said:
. .algorithms haven’t replaced human common sense.

Couple that with no common sense whatsoever for humans to replace it.

Facebook censors Declaration of Independence for hate speech

Stevicus

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Earthling

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Lyndon

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icehorse

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fantome profane

Anti-Woke = Anti-Justice

Stevicus

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Cacotopia

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9-10ths_Penguin

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Augustus

…

Revoltingest

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Twilight Hue

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