Facebook Algorithm Flags, Removes Declaration of Independence Text as Hate Speech

https://reason.com ^ | July 3, 2018 | Christian Britschgi

[babyfreep]

America's founding document might be too politically incorrect for Facebook, which flagged and removed a post consisting almost entirely of text from the Declaration of Independence. The excerpt, posted by a small community newspaper in Texas, apparently violated the social media site's policies against hate speech.

Since June 24, the Liberty County Vindicator of Liberty County, Texas, has been sharing daily excerpts from the declaration in the run up to July Fourth. The idea was to encourage historical literacy among the Vindicator's readers.

The first nine such posts of the project went up without incident.

"But part 10," writes Vindicator managing editor Casey Stinnett, "did not appear. Instead, The Vindicator received a notice from Facebook saying that the post 'goes against our standards on hate speech.'"

The post in question contained paragraphs 27 through 31 of the Declaration of Independence, the grievance section of the document wherein the put-upon colonists detail all the irreconcilable differences they have with King George III.

Stinnett says that he cannot be sure which exact grievance ran afoul of Facebook's policy, but he assumes that it's paragraph 31, which excoriates the King for inciting "domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages."

The removal of the post was an automated action, and Stinnett sent a "feedback message" to Facebook with the hopes of reaching a human being who could then exempt the Declaration of Independence from its hate speech restrictions.

Fearful that sharing more of the text might trigger the deletion of its Facebook page, The Vindicator has suspended its serialization of the declaration.

In his article, Stinnett is remarkably sanguine about this censorship. While unhappy about the decision, he reminds readers "that Facebook is a business corporation, not the government, and as such it is allowed to restrict use of its services as long as those restrictions do not violate any laws. Plus, The Vindicator is using Facebook for free, so the newspaper has little grounds for complaint other than the silliness of it."

Of course, Facebook's actions here are silly. They demonstrate a problem with automated enforcement of hate speech policies, which is that a robot trained to spot politically incorrect language isn't smart enough to detect when that language is part of a historically significant document.

None of this is meant as a defense of referring to Native Americans as "savages." That phrasing is clearly racist and serves as another example of the American Revolution's mixed legacy; one that won crucial liberties for a certain segment of the population, while continuing to deny those same liberties to Native Americans and African slaves. But by allowing the less controversial parts of the declaration to be shared while deleting the reference to "Indian savages," Facebook succeeds only in whitewashing America's founding just as we get ready to celebrate it.

A more thoughtful approach to Independence Day—for both celebrants and social media companies alike—would be to grapple with those historical demons.

[lepton]

None of this is meant as a defense of referring to Native Americans as “savages.” That phrasing is clearly racist

---

Only if it is referring to all Native Americans, as opposed to the ones who are attacking them in a savage manner.

[lepton]

Contrary to what is emphasized as the rule, slaves were not treated badly anymore than hired hands, livestock, and equipment were mistreated.

---

There was a decided shift after John Brown.

[bgill]

What’s a facebook?

[Ambrosia]

I was NOT on Facebook, however mewe promised they do not sell info, no ads, and your content belongs to you. I am
“El G” on mewe, it takes awhile to get known, just join groups that you have an interest in, and invite contacts to connect with you, whose profiles you like, or are in a group that you are interested I..., in order to get yourself known.

The latest I read about FB was it considers the Declaration of Independence to be unacceptable somehow...sad, and many are in FB jail for conservative remarks...does not sound fun to me...lol

[Gator113]

That was horribly disgusting.

FB has been dead to me for several years.

[EdnaMode]

Sigh.

[Retvet]

They’re anti USA. Nough said.

[Jim W N]

Here's the good news:

I believe God is saying to his people

Arise, shine; For your light is come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness covers the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord arises over you, And His glory is seen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1-2.

A divine sandwich. Darkness is sandwiched between God's light and glory on his people. We win, they lose. We know the darkness is there and getting worse, but let's keep our eyes on the prize, Jesus Christ, the All-Victorious One through whom we are more than conquerors. And let's bring as many as are willing from the kingdom of darkness into his marvelous light.

[SaveFerris]

+1

[Bulwyf]

Oh Ya, heaven forbid people actually get together..

An Irish guy who started working with me last week was telling me he has it to maintain contact with his family in Ireland. While I see his point, there has to be another way.

[Savage Beast]

I posted the Declaration of Independence three time on Facebook a couple of hours ago, and all three are still there.

[wardaddy]

All true

All irrelevant to those drunk on virtue signaling

[exodan]

America's founding document might be too politically incorrect for Facebook, which flagged and removed a post consisting almost entirely of text from the Declaration of Independence.

I understand that Facebook is a private entity/company and entitled to have own internal guide lines of managing the contents of expression/code of conduct, because they operate within public domain.

...but they are in for the money not the political speech.(at least that's what i think) So, Joe Sixpack signs up and tries to make some cash with politics of the day. Gets shut down for bogus claims flavor of the day. Correct me if I'm wrong(I refuse to have a Facebook page), Facebook is making money from all the monetized pages and assorted corporate advertising on said pages.

Now, that been said me thinks that Facebook operating in public domain and for profit should be subject to federal/state regulatory system like any other business entity including freedom of expression.

Just as a side note, when I see that Zuckerberg (Sugarmountain) creep, it remainds me of all my unpaid bills.

[firebrand]

The word “savages” had a distinct meaning at that time. There were 3 categories of human social forms: civilized, barbarian, and savage. We are part civilized and part barbarian, because we still have some inhumane punishments. The savage is not as advanced as the barbarian. Doesn’t do savage things for punishment or for any other reason other than that it’s part of the culture and they love doing it and see nothing whatsoever wrong with it.

The real problem some people have with the Declaration is that it has the word “creator” in it and therefore acknowledges the existence of God. Although Napolitano says it is part of our legal code, Scalia once called it a “broadside,” and not part of our legal code at all. This was at the libertarian Federalist Society, in response to a question.

[babyfreep]

but they are in for the money not the political speech

You are probably right there. Somebody that puts links on their pages (and their are a lot) didn't like it, I guess.
I think FR is probably the only site I know of that truly *is* in it for the political speech and not the money. ;-)

[firebrand]

And as for the Facebook controversy, Facebook is another place to be an activist for the truth. You have to use it for your own purposes and either correct or, in severe cases, block the enemy. Be the hall monitor. Put them in their place.

You’re nuts if you put private stuff that could harm you on there. I probably wouldn’t use it if I were looking for a job at the Nation.

[Zeneta]

The real problem some people have with the Declaration is that it has the word “creator” in it and therefore acknowledges the existence of God. Although Napolitano says it is part of our legal code, Scalia once called it a “broadside,” and not part of our legal code at all. This was at the libertarian Federalist Society, in response to a question.

It's more than a "Broadside" it's everything. Our "legal code" may be a wholly separate question and shouldn't necessarily be conflated.

The Left hates "Creator" because it removes their power.

It's that simple.

The most profound aspect of the founding of America is the distillation of over two thousand years of Philosophy and thought from Aristotle to John Locke and others into a statement, a Declaration of Independence, that so succinctly defines the state of man and the foundation of a new Nation.

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness….”

This is why America is exceptional.

Those words are what the Left wants to destroy.

[Pajamajan]

Awesome! Free Speech is soo overrated.

We only need our democrat politicians to speak for us, tell us what to think , what to do, and how much of our money to give them, because they care much more.

Who wants Free Speech? We have paradise (/s).

[exodan]

I think FR is probably the only site I know of that truly *is* in it for the political speech and not the money. ;-)

You are right, FR is member's driven website including financing it. Therefore the Robinsons can impose any restrictions they seem fit no question's asked. It is their prerogative to do so as a non profit entity.

Facebook not so...they are making profits up the wazoo and donating truck loads of money to the democrats to keep them happy. I hate saying/asking the Government to step/reign in those Silicon Valley companies, thinking that their shit don't stink and they are the future king makers, because they sure act as such with their blatant displayed arrogance.

[Lurker]

“None of this is meant as a defense of referring to Native Americans as “savages.”

Except a hell of a lot of them were.

L