EDITORIAL: The speech police

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that “tech companies, think tanks, activists and governments are pouring resources into new ways to fight back against violent propaganda washing over the internet, including hate speech from groups like Islamic organizations and far-right radicals.”

The move has led to Facebook offering free advertising to groups that fight back against online “hate speech.”

Back in May the social media giant said it would act to remove flagged content within 24 hours, CNN reported. “Social media is unfortunately one of the tools that terrorist groups use to radicalize young people and racists use to spread violence and hatred,” an EU official told the network.

Facebook, Twitter and other private operators are certainly free to regulate content. But it should raise a red flag when governments get in on the action.

In addition, the definition of “hate speech” or “inappropriate content” remains a moving target. In fact, content targeted by some social media sites extends well beyond pages designed to recruit or incite potential jihadists or Klansmen.

Consider Big B’s Texas Barbecue in Henderson. To promote her business, Natalia Badzjo created a Facebook page featuring photos of the restaurant’s fare. Review-Journal food writer Heidi Knapp Rinella reported in her Kitchen Confidante column last week that this prompted some carnophobes to complain — and Facebook promptly removed the page.

“Due to some really mean vegan fanatics reporting our BBQ restaurant page ‘offensive’ and ‘inappropriate’ Facebook has unpublished it,” Ms. Badzjo wrote on her personal Facebook page. “After two weeks trying to fight and appeal this ridiculous ... decision, I have decided to start over.”

Those who argue the world has gone completely bonkers can point to this incident as Exhibit 72.