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Facebook reveals plans to tackle online extremism

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A new initiative will act as a forum for firms to share experience of extremism and trigger awareness campaigns.
The social network has launched the Online Civil Courage Initiative (OCCI) , which will act as a forum for non-profit organisations to share experience of extremism and develop « best practices » to confront the issue.
Founding partners behind the initiative include the Jo Cox Foundation, set up in memory of the murdered MP, as well as anti-hate groups from the Jewish and Muslim communities.
The OCCI will be used to share experience, Facebook said, and will lead to awareness campaigns and better « counterspeech » to fight extremism.
Internet companies have been under increasing pressure from the Government over their role in the spread of hate speech.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the Government was « not frightened » to sanction firms who fail to remove extreme material.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, said: « There is no place for hate or violence on Facebook.
« We use technology like AI to find and remove terrorist propaganda, and we have teams of counterterrorism experts and reviewers around the world working to keep extremist content off our platform. »
The OCCI has already launched in Germany and France.
Fiyaz Mughal, founder of anti-Muslim hatred company Tell Mama which is an OCCI founding partner, said: « This initiative is much needed given that a vast amount of material online may be insulting and sometimes inflammatory, though it may not cross a legal threshold for action.
« This means that civil society mobilisation is needed as counter-speech to tackle such texts, language and ideologies.
« We are in a battle for hearts and minds and this initiative is one tool in mobilising the enormous force for good that is in communities. »

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