Facebook Says It Can Block Content to Avoid Regulatory Risk

Change will give Facebook powers to remove or block content
Mark Zuckerberg has long publicly championed free speech

Watch: Facebook Inc. plans to block people and publishers in Australia from sharing news, a move that pushes back against a proposed law forcing the company to pay media firms for their articles. (Source: Bloomberg)

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By Sarah Frier

September 1, 2020 at 6:46 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Facebook Inc. on Tuesday told users it can take down or block any content that could increase regulatory or legal risks for the social media giant around the world -- even if the content itself isn’t illegal.

The broad language of a global change to its terms of service, which takes effect Oct. 1, gives the U.S. giant room to do whatever it deems necessary to maintain its business objectives in a shifting regulatory environment.