Bulletins

Facebook will crack down on hate speech against marginalized groups

Facebook's algorithms for detecting hate speech will no longer be "race-blind," according to a new Washington Post report.

The company's systems will prioritize cracking down on hate speech against Black, Muslim, Jewish, mixed-raced and LGBTQ populations, an effort to root out the "worst of the worst."

Previously, Facebook was equally vigilant in taking down slurs against privileged groups, including white people and men. But now, its system will place a higher priority on removing statements like "gay people are disgusting" than "men are pigs," according to the Post.

"We know that hate speech targeted towards underrepresented groups can be the most harmful, which is why we have focused our technology on finding the hate speech that users and experts tell us is the most serious," Facebook spokeswoman Sally Aldous told the Post.

Emily Birnbaum

Emily Birnbaum ( @birnbaum_e) is a former tech policy reporter with Protocol. Her coverage focuses on the U.S. government's attempts to regulate one of the most powerful industries in the world, with a focus on antitrust, privacy and politics. Previously, she worked as a tech policy reporter with The Hill after spending several months as a breaking news reporter. She is a Bethesda, Maryland native and proud Kenyon College alumna.

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