Facebook slams proposed German ‘anti-hate speech’ social media law

If German Justice Minister Heiko Maas has his way, platforms like Facebook will face fines for hosting illegal content. In a rare direct statement, Facebook says it should not be tasked with “state responsibilities.”

Facebook isn’t happy about a draft law, currently in committee in the Bundestag, that would impose fines on social media platforms if they fail to delete hate speech and other sorts of illegal expression. The German weekly business newspaper Wirtschaftswoche published excerpts from a German-language statement to be released on Monday in which the social media giant went on the attack, DW reports.

“The legislative state cannot pass on its own shortcomings and responsibilities to private companies,” the statement read. “Preventing and combating hate speech and fake news is a public task that the state cannot avoid.”

Theoretically, if the draft legislation becomes law, Facebook could face fines of up to 50 million euros ($56 million) – too much, says the company.

“The amount of the fines is not commensurate to the behavior that would be sanctioned,” the statement read. Facebook also warned against Germany “going it alone nationally” and called for a European solution to the problem of hate speech.

It is rare for Facebook, which often speaks in Germany through PR representatives, to issue direct statements. The Justice Ministry under Maas has promised to get the anti-hate-speech law through the Bundestag before the end of this legislative period in June. But it’s proving quite controversial.