Facebook mother or father firm Meta has eliminated the Azov Regiment, a controversial unit inside the Ukrainian National Guard with alleged far-right political leanings, from its list of dangerous people and organizations. The transfer, first reported by The Kyiv Independent, means members of the unit can now create Facebook and Instagram accounts and publish with out Meta robotically flagging and eradicating their content material. Additionally, unaffiliated customers can reward the Azov Regiment, offered they abide by the corporate’s Community Standards.
“The war in Ukraine has meant changing circumstances in many areas and it has become clear that the Azov Regiment does not meet our strict criteria for designation as a dangerous organization,” an organization spokesperson advised The Kyiv Independent. Meta didn’t instantly reply to Engadget’s remark request.
Sharing extra data on the coverage change, Meta advised The Washington Post it just lately started to view the Azov Regiment as a separate entity from different teams related to the far-right nationalist Azov Movement. Specifically, the corporate pointed to Ukraine’s National Corp political occasion and founder Andriy Biletsky, noting they’re nonetheless on its list of dangerous people and organizations. “Hate speech, hate symbols, calls for violence and any other content which violates our Community Standards are still banned, and we will remove this content if we find it,” Meta stated.
Important information from @Meta — modifications in platform’s insurance policies. Azov regiment not meets designation as dangerous group. Means loads for each Ukrainian. New method enters the power step by step. Big contribution @nickclegg & his workforce in sharing truthful content material about struggle.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) January 19, 2023
The Azov Regiment was based in 2014 by Biletsky following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the Donbas War that very same 12 months. Before the unit was built-in into Ukraine’s National Guard in November 2014, it was controversial for its adherence to neo-Nazi ideology. In 2015, a spokesperson for the Azov Regiment stated 10 to twenty % of the unit’s recruits had been self-professed Nazis. At the beginning of the 2022 battle, Ukrainian officers stated the Azov Regiment nonetheless had some extremists amongst its ranks however claimed the unit had largely turn into depoliticized. During the months-long siege of Mariupol, the Azov Regiment performed a distinguished function within the metropolis’s protection. Russia captured lots of the battalion’s fighters on the finish of the battle.
The change underscores simply how a lot Meta’s content material moderation insurance policies have modified for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Partway by final 12 months, the corporate started quickly permitting folks in Ukraine and a handful of different nations to name for violence towards Russian troopers. After the choice created controversy, Meta stated it might flip to the Oversight Board for coverage steering, a request the corporate later withdrew, citing “ongoing safety and security concerns” associated to the struggle.
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