Facebook to ban white nationalist, separatist praise

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Facebook announced Wednesday it will ban praise and support of white nationalism and white separatism from its platform following a terror attack on two New Zealand mosques that killed at least 50 victims.

The ban will take effect beginning next week.

Facebook said it made the decision following conversations with experts in race relations with civil society members and academics.

"White nationalism and separatism cannot be meaningfully separated from white supremacy and organized hate groups," Facebook said in explaining the rationale behind its action. "While people will still be able to demonstrate pride in their ethnic heritage, we will not tolerate praise or support for white nationalism and separatism."

Facebook will additionally redirect people who search for white supremacy-associated terms to Life After Hate, a nonprofit organization co-founded by former white nationalists that seeks to help people leave neo-Nazism.

While the group received funding from former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, President Donald Trump halted federal assistance in June 2017.

Facebook has been the subject of criticism following the Christchurch, New Zealand attacks during which the terrorist livestreamed his heinous attacks on the social media website.

In a statement last week, Facebook said the video received a full 4,000 views before it was taken down, adding it was reported 29 minutes after it started, and 12 minutes after the live broadcast was ended.

The statement said none of the 200 people who watched the livebroadcast reported the video to Facebook.

At least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured March 15 when a suspected gunman Brenton Tarrant, 28, entered the Al-Noor and Linwood mosques and shot worshippers in cold blood, including four children.

Tarrant has been charged with the white nationalist terror attack and is being held at a maximum-security prison in Auckland with no access to print or online media.