Days after the attack on the US Capitol , Facebook announced that hate speech has increased in relation to the upcoming inauguration of the new US President, Joe Biden. Specifically, the tech giant has observed a significant increase in indications suggesting possible future acts of violence, due to the questioning of the outcome of the US presidential election .
A Facebook spokesperson, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons , told Reuters on January 12 that the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters appeared to be a galvanizing event, sparking efforts to organize rallies across the country on multiple dates around Biden's inauguration, which will take place on January 20.
Among the relevant indications of hate speech that Facebook identified are digital flyers promoting the events, some of which contain calls to armed forces or hate groups.
Additionally, the FBI is warning that armed protests are planned in Washington and all 50 U.S. capitals before Biden's inauguration. A Facebook spokesperson said the company's pace of sharing information with law enforcement officials has increased following the Capitol attack.
Hate speech on online platforms had increased even before the Capitol events, as far-right groups planned the attack, largely in open public view, according to researchers and public posts.
Lawmakers were forced to evacuate the Capitol as the building was overrun by Trump supporters, white nationalist groups and militias who overwhelmed security forces. Five people were killed, including a Capitol police officer who was beaten while trying to remove the rioters.
Following the attack, leading tech companies took unprecedented steps to stamp out the baseless claims of election fraud that had fueled calls for violence. Notably, Twitter and Facebook permanently deleted Trump's accounts, while Amazon Web Services and major mobile app stores removed Parler.
Facebook also banned content on Jan. 11 that promoted the phrase “stop the theft,” which has become a rallying cry for armed pro-Trump protests. The company is also blocking searches for “storm the Capitol” and flagging posts that include those phrases for further review. YouTube shut down Trump’s channel for seven days, under pressure from civil rights groups.
