Yet more censorship of factual content – video showing Lammy’s own words treated as ‘misleading’
Social media platform Facebook has removed a second Skwawkbox post in the space of two days in what appears to be a campaign of censorship and potentially a campaign of vexatious complaints about perfectly accurate content that inconveniences the Starmer government.
The affected post showed Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly refusing to say that Iran or Lebanon have the right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression. Facebook’s AI again supposedly decided that this was ‘misleading’, even though the video is of a Lammy television interview and no words have been changed and even though Skwawkbox is a formally regulated news site with a perfect reliability rating – and again, the platform gives a sinister warning that ‘Repeatedly breaking our rules can cause more account restrictions’ even though no rules have been broken in either case:
The first removed post accurately lists, then discussed, the collapse of Keir Starmer’s Labour in last Thursday’s by-elections. Supposedly, Facebook’s AI decided the article is ‘misleading’.
It’s far from the first time that Skwawkbox has been targeted, with restrictions withdrawn and removals reversed after appeal, once an item has become ‘old news’ – and readers routinely report being unable to share, or even find, new articles.
Facebook – like Twitter – has long been on a trajectory of favouring right-wing accounts and articles over left-wing. It was exposed in 2020 using its algorithms to target left-wing sources while relaxing fact-checking standards on right-wing pages. While much of its censorship is AI-driven, it also uses human ‘fact-checkers’ with ties to hard-right groups and news outlets.
Social media that protect genuine free speech and dissent are urgently needed, but those who wish to be sure of finding the informing that Skwawkbox uncovers should subscribe to this site’s free mailing list and to the Skwawkbox Telegram channel.
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Facebook sides with genocide!!!
How surprising!
WOW, being on Facebook must be a significant advantage to Skwawkbox for it not to say “enough is enough” and stop using it entirely.
Me, I avoid it like the plague, so what do I know. Do most readers use Facebook or come here because of Skwbx’s presence on it?
I use Facebook, qwertboi. Mainly, to keep in touch with non-political friends, from the past. Sadly, as time goes on, they’re becoming fewer and fewer.
One thing I did learn, recently – don’t mention Tim Berners-Lee on Facebook.
The post will be whisked away so fast, it’ll make your head spin. Obviously, Zuckerberg’s fragile ego can’t cope with people knowing he’s not – and never was – ‘master of the World Wide Web’.
Messenger, on Facebook, have recently ‘encrypted’ my account. No idea what that means, or why they’ve done it, but it has severely restricted my private conversations with others, to the point where it’s pretty useless.
If only the ‘Left Media’ would convene to thrash out cooperation between the myriad platforms, it would make our lives so much easier.
UN Human Rights Watch examines social media censorship and says: “.. users should have effective opportunities to appeal against decisions they consider to be unfair, and independent courts should have the final say over lawfulness of content.”
Is there a Facebook appeal process open to impress-regulated Skwawkbox here?
There is an appeals process – of sorts. I’m not sure how effective it is, or how neutral with regard to a fair hearing – or, indeed, how Skwawkie would go about it.
Take heart, Skwawkie – Ruth Bader Ginsberg knew why you’re being censored by Facebook :
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GZbQwfgWQAAbVZt?format=jpg&name=small
When defending yourself against supporting a proscribed group, it’s a legitimate defence to say you are protected under the Genocide convention
It’s a double whammy if those prosecuting you are complicit in the Holocaust
Its called the ‘My Dad’s bigger than your Dad ‘ Doctrine
What say you
Another very important issue is the current government’s opposition to nuclear disarmament.
Therefore, please ask your MP to sign the following EDM sponsored by Jeremy Corbyn.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/62446/mutual-defence-agreement
Thank you.
So far only 1 Labour MP out of 12 is supporting the Motion. Thanks, Tony, but I wonder in the fear-and-deceit managed Labour party, is there any point asking ones Labour MP to sign?
There’s only one way to find out for sure.