Reddit Bans Nazi Groups In Online Crackdown
Image by Getty Images
By Sam Kestenbaum October 27, 2017
Reddit has begun implementing new rules banning forums for Nazis and white supremacist groups.
The company outlined the update to its policy on Wednesday with a statement on the site.
“Going forward, we will take action against any content that encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence or physical harm against an individual or a group of people,” the statement reads. “We understand that enforcing this policy may often require subjective judgment, so all of the usual caveats apply with regard to content that is newsworthy, artistic, educational, satirical, etc, as mentioned in the policy. Context is key.”
Among the first to be banned were the subreddits r/NationalSocialism, r/Naziand r/Far_Right. Others which were shuttered include r/whitesarecriminals and r/DylannRoofInnocent.
The white nationalist “alt-right” movement took shape on online forums, including Reddit. The site has grappled with how to police content that violates its rules. In February, the site shuttered forumsassociated with the “alt-right.”
Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
