Relying on individuals blocking bad accounts does not work in the real world. Here's a concrete example:
A black grandfather played with his white grandchildren. His family videoed it and shared this wholesome scene.
Far right racists stole the video, removed the context and claimed it was a paedophile grooming victims. They posted their edited version and a far right moron with over a million racist followers shared the video.
The black grandfather is now living in fear, but the social network (Musk's X) won't take the posts down and the police claim that sharing the video isn't a crime.
theguardian.com/world/2025/aug…
Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters
Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in parkRobyn Vinter (The Guardian)
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FediThing 🏳️🌈
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •From the article:
“I feel unsafe, scared and sad, as mine and my brother’s lives have been threatened. Someone said they will seek revenge and I’ll never walk again, all for just being in the park with the kids I love on a family day out. It’s been twisted by haters and wicked people.”
“The distress this is causing is unreal, it’s ruined our lives ... there we were, looking after the girls minding our own business and now we are scared to do anything."
"We were walking home from shops and two lads passed us, spun round and said ‘I hope you’re not them off that video or we’re coming back to slash you up’."
FediThing 🏳️🌈
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •More from the same article:
“Just after it started to go viral, someone in the local pub recognised Olajuwon immediately; we couldn’t believe how quick it had spread."
"Someone was shouting ‘paedophile’ outside the house the other night, so I rang the police again but they say there’s little they can do. It feels a matter of time before something bad happens. We tried to go out yesterday and had to come home.”
“We just want people to know the truth. We’re a normal family who went to the park with our grandchildren. The lies and racism have turned our lives upside down and continue to do so daily.”
FediThing 🏳️🌈
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •The philosophy of people like Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk is that people should be able to see whatever they want, and if they don't like it they block it.
That might sound good on a superficial level, but the real world shows how it's a terrible idea that puts innocent people in physical danger.
Bigots use unmoderated networks to spread lies about groups they want to target. Even if an individual blocks them, other people haven't blocked them and some believe the lies, and that's how bigoted radicalisation happens.
Bigoted lies have to be stopped at source, before innocent people are threatened or attacked in real life.
FediThing 🏳️🌈
in reply to FediThing 🏳️🌈 • • •If anyone is wondering whether this is an isolated case, it isn't.
Poorly moderated social networks have been linked to multiple real life massacres and genocides. Bigoted lies were deliberately spread about innocent groups in order to stir up violence:
thebureauinvestigates.com/stor…
theguardian.com/technology/202…
amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/…
Poorly moderated or unmoderated social networks can get innocent people attacked or even killed.
It's notable that at least one of the victims of the Ethiopian massacre didn't even use social media. Lack of moderation puts people in danger even if they aren't online at all.
Ethiopia: Facebook algorithms contributed to human rights abuses against Tigrayans during conflict - New Report
Amnesty International UK