Leaders call on Facebook and TikTok to act against anti-Semitism

Malmo. Politicians and Jewish organizations are demanding that platforms such as Facebook, Tiktok and Youtube take greater responsibility for the hate and anti-Semitism that is rampant there.

It’s time for governments to take action against companies, says Jonathan Greenblatt of the American Anti-Defamation League.

– They’re very anti-Semitic propagators, he says.

A report published by Expo on Wednesday shows that Jew-hatred and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on the Internet It increased sharply during the pandemic. Youngsters are often exposed via social media platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook social networking site.

During the international conference in Malmö, the role of many social media in giving fresh air to anti-Semitism was highlighted under its wings. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and Israel Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai has shifted his focus to businesses.

– There is a serious increase in anti-Semitism in the world. Social media platforms have a big role in this. It increases hate levels and platforms must take responsibility for it. They can’t be neutral, he said, they are part of it.

“Facebook must be held responsible”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization working to combat anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred, has been harsh in his criticism of the companies.

He calls these platforms “super-spreaders of anti-Semitism” and demands that countries act jointly against platforms such as Facebook.

Governments should hold Facebook accountable for what spreads. He said during a speech at the conference to protect our children and our people.

Some companies are at the conference, including TikTok and Facebook. Jordana Cutler represents Facebook.

We have a role to play when it comes to remembering the Holocaust and that it won’t happen again, says Cutler, Facebook’s head of policy in Israel and the Jewish diaspora.

Many have raised social media platforms like Facebook as a problem when it comes to spreading anti-Semitism. How do you look at it?

We have clear policies of hate and have developed special policies of anti-Semitism, prejudices about Jews and the proliferation of the Holocaust. She says that everything related to piracy of the Holocaust or the claim that it did not happen is forbidden.

You must work actively to report

She says Facebook is in close contact with Jewish organizations on this. It also highlights the company’s collaboration with UNESCO and the World Jewish Congress (WJC reds note), in which anyone searching for the Holocaust on the platform is referred to a site with information about the Holocaust.

What commitment will you take with you from here?

– What we saw here at the conference is that it’s not just about removing hate, but we must also take active work to ensure that young people know about the Holocaust, she says.

Daniel Bol At the Expo Foundation points out that the problem of hate and criticism of platforms has been raised for a long time. Facebook also received harsh criticism from a former employee who believes the company knows the platform is inciting hatred and spreading misinformation.

– Although we’ve been talking about this for a decade, our report shows that you can still easily find the classic images and prejudices in all the forums we’ve seen.

‘She has a huge responsibility’

But he believes it is important that major players such as Facebook are present at the conference.

– It means a lot that they got involved. They all bear a great responsibility and share in the fact that anti-Semitism is more widespread than it was 20 years ago.

– There is a daily life that the Jews live, do not be disturbed overnight. But it clearly means something to actors who have the ability but actually promise to do more than they do today.