Per Fox News, and their tip to Facebook, the largest social networking site blocked a new jihadist group that was using Facebook to spread their message. The group had grown to 120 members after a week and “had been exhorting its members to wage ‘Jihad to aid the religion of Allah and his Prophet.'”
And they say terrorism isn’t alive and well.
But this makes me wonder: What about free speech? Why did Facebook deem this group radical? What are their boundaries? I agree, obviously, that they are. But Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. One of these days, one of these folks is going to get upset and raise a stink about their lack of freedom of speech.
What if I start a radical group againsn’t radical Islam? (Maybe there is one, I don’t know.) Would that be shut down because it’s ‘hate speech’?
Don’t get me wrong, I applaud Facebook. Not only was it a solid decision, but as importantly, they are a private company and can shut down any group they want, including “When I was your age Pluto was a Planet.” But I wonder how they came to this kind of decision and if anyone will give them some flack for it.