Thursday 10 June 2010

Facebook etiquette

According to The Freethinker, the cartoonist, Lars Vilks just joined a Facebook group:

The controversial artist, who sparked debate – and attracted death threats – by drawing the “prophet” Mohammed with the body of a dog, revealed yesterday that he had joined Facebook’s “Kill Lars Vilks”group, as well as another anti-Vilks group.


Under the circumstances, it's quite sporting of Vilks to see the funny side.

I'm all for free speech, but it isn't a Facebook group calling for somebody's death just a teensy bit illegal? I might be wrong - I'm no lawyer - but it sounds like intentionally encouraging an offence to me. And what about Facebook's own terms of service?

Statement of Rights and Responsibilities

This Statement of Rights and Responsibilities ("Statement") derives from the Facebook Principles, and governs our relationship with users and others who interact with Facebook. By using or accessing Facebook, you agree to this Statement...

3. Safety...

7. You will not post content that: is hateful, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence...

10. You will not use Facebook to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.



Call me old fashioned, but doesn't encouraging murder* tick some of those boxes?

* No doubt the perpetrator(s) of this group would argue that he/she/they didn't mean anybody to take them literally, but in the case of sombody who has already been assaulted by violent protesters, subject to arson attack and a failed assasination plot, it's reasonable to assume that some nutter might take the instruction literally.

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