Facebook to start removing the long overdue white nationalism and separatism content from its platform

With the long-standing policy of allowing white supremacy to thrive on its platform, Facebook has now decided to ban support, praise and representation of white nationalism and white separatism on the platform that includes Instagram.

Facebook said in a blog post on Wednesday that these concepts are linked to deeply linked and organised hate groups that will have no place on its platform.

Facebook came under pressure after a terror attack by a white man on two mosques was live-streamed on Facebook in New Zealand. The attack had left 50 people dead, which was viewed more than 4000 times before it was removed.

Facebook said that it allowed white nationalism and white separatism on its platforms because it thought of this as a broader concept of nationalism and separatism that includes things like Basque separatism and American pride that it thought was important for peoples identity.

Over the past three months, Facebook said that its conversations with members of civil society and academics confirmed that white nationalism and white separatism cant be separated from white supremacy and organised hate groups.

Facebook went on to say that adding the ban would come into force next week, "Going forward, while people will still be able to demonstrate pride in their ethnic heritage, we will not tolerate praise or support for white nationalism and white separatism".