What could go wrong? EU teams up with Twitter, Microsoft, Facebook, Google to 'tackle illegal hate speech'

https://twitter.com/GayPatriot/status/737711632311287808

didn't Orwell write a book about this lol

— Terry (@TerryVentre) May 31, 2016

Hail The Ministry of Truth.

— Tim (@Tim0What) May 31, 2016

Looks like the Twitter Speech Police are partnering up with some fellow do-gooders to take down thought criminals once and for all. At least in the European Union.

Věra Jourová, the EU’s Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, shared this piece of good news earlier today:

Proud to present an important agreement w/@facebook, @twitter, @google and @Microsoft on combating illegal online hate speech #NoPlace4Hate

— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) May 31, 2016

Wow, this sounds great, doesn’t it? Let’s read some more about it:

The IT Companies support the European Commission and EU Member States in the effort to respond to the challenge of ensuring that online platforms do not offer opportunities for illegal online hate speech to spread virally. They share, together with other platforms and social media companies, a collective responsibility and pride in promoting and facilitating freedom of expression throughout the online world. However, the Commission and the IT Companies recognise that the spread of illegal hate speech online not only negatively affects the groups or individuals that it targets, it also negatively impacts those who speak out for freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination in our open societies and has a chilling effect on the democratic discourse on online platforms.

By signing this code of conduct, the IT companies commit to continuing their efforts to tackle illegal hate speech online. This will include the continued development of internal procedures and staff training to guarantee that they review the majority of valid notifications for removal of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to such content, if necessary. The IT companies will also endeavour to strengthen their ongoing partnerships with civil society organisations who will help flag content that promotes incitement to violence and hateful conduct. The IT companies and the European Commission also aim to continue their work in identifying and promoting independent counter-narratives, new ideas and initiatives, and supporting educational programs that encourage critical thinking.

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So, what constitutes “illegal hate speech”?

“Hate speech.” https://t.co/6dRx95JXlX

— Kemberlee Kaye (@KemberleeKaye) May 31, 2016

"Illegal speech" #wrongthink #TotesNotFascist@VeraJourova @facebook @twitter @google @Microsoft https://t.co/KxTeL9W3fn

— Beelzebub’s Tesseract (@CJHerod) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/Nonjob6/status/737707461600251904

https://twitter.com/Batleth777/status/737710162073559044

Who decides what is defined as hate speech?
The word combating offends me. https://t.co/83SyQi1avq

— Casey Biemiller (@cbiemiller) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/Nonjob6/status/737707461600251904

As always, the question is: Who decides what is acceptable speech and what isn't? https://t.co/0I814gtiIm

— Kelly Jane Torrance (@KJTorrance) May 31, 2016

Guess that’s for them to know, and you to find out — and be punished for.

https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/737708325727412224

This strikes me as utterly terrifying. Companies colluding with the government… https://t.co/sH2hagcqbd

— Mark Davin Harris (@markdharris) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/Sunglare/status/737698762265493504

https://twitter.com/BruceNV/status/737710467250933761

https://twitter.com/millennialviews/status/737698547718627328

"Proud"?
You should be ashamed of yourself for celebrating illiberal, authoritarian censorship of legitimate speech. https://t.co/3djccPQBgy

— A Libertarian Rebel Esq QC? #BritishIndependence (@A_Liberty_Rebel) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/Vestra_Culpa/status/737705721601662976

Another good reason for Britain to leave the EU: garbage like this. https://t.co/xtPafSzIoq

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/JonasofOtt/status/737720036324986880

This is nothing more than censorship. Why are you trying to kill the culture of Europe?

— ((Ian R H)) (@IanRH64) May 31, 2016

What you are doing is disgusting, you are killing free speech. This is pure censorship.

— Strangebrew (@Xekus) May 31, 2016

And by "hate speech," you mean "anything a liberal disagrees with." @VeraJourova @facebook @twitter @google @Microsoft

— BattleSwarm (@BattleSwarmBlog) May 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/Batleth777/status/737709348948987905

https://twitter.com/AnGiogoir/status/737662544647757825

https://twitter.com/cjmn83/status/737709504297459713

Unelected bureaucrats trying to censor, USSR style. Shame on you.

— Freidrich Goatse (@FreidrichGoatse) May 31, 2016

Big brother is watching. They will do whatever it takes to shut you down. #Brexit before its too late. https://t.co/UOlmeTpd5e

— Sir Brexit McBrexit MD ?? (@MickMurrin74) May 31, 2016

hate speech is a moving target. I consider your tweet hate speech. Delete.

— TransparentTrader (@OlBillyBitcoin) May 31, 2016

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Related:

‘Watch out for those scary opinions’! Twitter introduces glorified speech police