How Merkel Is Taking on Facebook and Twitter
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Germany has now begun enforcing Europe’s toughest law aimed at reining in hate speech and fake news on social media, threatening to fine the likes of Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc., and Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube up to 50 million euros ($60 million) if they refuse to delete illegal posts. The legislation, which kicked in on Jan. 1 and is backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, has drawn criticism and support from many sides of the political aisle. The law has garnered early potency, after Twitter moved quickly to block posts from two senior politicians for the Alternative for Germany, a far-right opposition party.
The law is the result of a conflict that has been simmering since 2015, when Merkel confronted Facebook’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg on how his company is progressing in efforts to curtail racist posts during the country’s refugee crisis. Also frustrated by a surge in hate speech and fake news during Germany’s 2017 election campaign, Merkel’s government drafted the law that was approved by lawmakers last summer -- despite criticism from the companies as well as internet activists, who are saying it’s curtailing free speech.