{"id":290114,"date":"2021-07-02T19:35:38","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T16:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/facebooks-new-extremism-warning-causes-concern-among-conservatives\/"},"modified":"2021-07-02T19:35:38","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T16:35:38","slug":"facebooks-new-extremism-warning-causes-concern-among-conservatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/facebooks-new-extremism-warning-causes-concern-among-conservatives\/","title":{"rendered":"#Facebook’s new extremism warning causes concern among conservatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Facebook<\/a>’s new extremism warning causes concern among conservatives<\/strong>”
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An eyebrow-raising new Facebook feature warns users when they might have been exposed to extremist content or if they know someone who is becoming an extremist \u2014 prompting concerns it may target conservative voices and stifle free speech. <\/p>\n

Screenshots of the anti-extremism alerts circulated Thursday on social media. <\/p>\n

One of the prompts asks users<\/a>, \u201cAre you concerned that someone you know is becoming an extremist?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe care about preventing extremism on Facebook,\u201d the prompt goes on. \u201cOthers in your situation have received confidential support.\u201d<\/p>\n

A second alert read, \u201cYou may have been exposed to harmful extremist content recently.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cViolent groups try to manipulate your anger and disapp<\/a>ointment. You can take action now to protect yourself and others,\u201d it continues.<\/p>\n

Both of the alerts also redirect users to a support page. <\/p>\n

Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesperson, confirmed that the company is testing the prompts as part of a wider approach to radicalization prevention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis test is part of our larger work to assess ways to provide resources and support to people on Facebook who may have engaged with or were exposed to extremist content, or may know someone who is at risk,\u201d Stone said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are partnering with NGOs and academic experts in this space and hope to have more to share in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook said the tests are a part of\u00a0its Redirect Initiative, which \u201chelps combat violent extremism and dangerous organizations by redirecting hate and violence-related search terms towards resources, education, and outreach groups,\u201d according to the company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, when people search on Facebook for terms related to white supremacy in the US, results are directed to\u00a0Life After Hate<\/a>, an organization founded by former violent extremists that provides crisis intervention, education, support groups, and outreach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook says it\u2019s partnered with organizations in the US, Australia, Germany, Indonesia and the UK to expand the Redirect Initiative. <\/p>\n

However, several conservative figures quickly criticized the initiative, saying it could suppress free speech and target right-leaning perspectives. <\/p>\n

Nick Freitas, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates,\u00a0tweeted an image<\/a> of one of the alerts and said, \u201cYes\u2026actually I have a real concern that some leftist technocrats are creating an Orwellian environment where people are being arbitrarily silenced or banned for saying something the \u2018thought police\u2019 doesn\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Writer and conservative commentator Alex Berenson also slammed Facebook over the warnings. <\/p>\n

\u201cEither they\u2019re a publisher and a political platform legally liable for every bit of content they host, or they need to STAY OUT OF THE WAY,\u201d he wrote on Twitter. \u201cZuck\u2019s choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sorry. \u201cOthers in your situation have received confidential support.\u201d Which is somehow even more infuriating, with its patronizing tone.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) July 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Conservative writer Ericka Andersen also hit out at the tech giant, calling its initiative \u201cconcerning.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one needs your help defining an extremist, Facebook,\u201d she said on Twitter.<\/p>\n

Dan Gainor, vice president at Media Research Center, a right-wing media watchdog, also chimed in<\/a>, saying that \u201c#Extremism warnings from @Facebook are a sign of severe mental illness among wokesters.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Do you want to snitch on your friends, family, and neighbors for wrongthink? Here’s how! <\/p>\n

Nice to see Facebook going full Stasi\/NKVD. Learning from the former East Germans who now advise leftist “anti-extremist” organizations. pic.twitter.com\/bnqKdFqV49<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) July 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Ian Miles Cheong, a conservative Malaysian commentator who\u2019s become known for weighing in on US politics, raised concerns, too. <\/p>\n

\u201cNice to see Facebook going full Stasi\/NKVD. Learning from the former East Germans who now advise leftist \u2018anti-extremist\u2019 organizations,\u201d he wrote on Twitter.\n <\/p><\/div>\n