Facebook Asking Your Neighbors to Report Extremist Friends | Eastern NC Now

   As if censorship was not enough, Facebook is now sending messages to various users around the country to report Potentially Extremist Friends. These messages include a button “Get Support,” which leads the user to another Facebook page about extremism.

   It has been reported that a screenshot of the message from a person who received this message was asking if anyone else had received a message from Facebook such as this to which another person who is not an ideologue but hosts lots of competing chatter says that they got this message twice.

   Others have reported getting a warning that they may have been “exposed to harmful extremist content recently.” The message states that violent groups try to manipulate the public’s anger and disappointment, similarly offering the Get Support option.

   Some people have randomly provided the notice after having clicked over to the app. The Get Support button just goes to a short article asking people not to be hateful.

   A Facebook spokesman has confirmed that the company is currently running the warnings as a test to some users, saying that the test is part of a 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. Academic experts have expressed hope to have more to share in the future according to the spokesperson for Facebook, without elaborating.

   These messages come after various lawmakers have repeatedly targeted and pressured CEOs of the big tech firms, essentially accusing them of allowing extremism, misinformation and cyber bullying on their platforms. These media companies have faced criticism from Republicans who have accused them of censoring conservative voices and limiting the reach, or outright blocking, content that portrays Democratic political figures in a negative light.

   Conservatives, including former Pres. Donald Trump have argued for the revocation of section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which serves as a liability shield for online publishers. However, the movement to reign in Big Tech was dealt a blow earlier this week when a federal judge tossed a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against Facebook that had accused the firm of engaging in anti-competitive practices.

   These warning messages, however, are sure to trigger even more negative feedback against Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, over fears that the company is attempting to stifle free speech. On Twitter, and screenshots of the warning messages were being shared en masse many users were expressing concerns over the direction that Facebook is taking.

   You may remember that Congressman Adam Schiff sent a letter to the Presidents of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube suggesting that they could use their respective platforms to curb the dissemination of what the Congressman termed as misinformation. Apparently, the companies have put a slight twist on their prior activities by censoring free speech proactively whereas their prior activities were reactive.

   What is next if this practice is not stopped. Will these companies report the information that they receive to authorities in federal law enforcement? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, these types of situations never have a good ending with respect to the private citizens who are being censored.