FACEBOOK RULES PREVENT ACTION AGAINST HATRED SPREADING

SLCERT says despite Lankan authorities’ efforts, prevailing laws hinder taking any action

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) said no concrete action could be taken against those who spread religious and racial hatred on Facebook despite efforts being taken to liaise with Facebook and curb posts conveying religious and racial hatred.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror the spokesman for SLCERT Roshan Chandraguptha said Facebook terms of use have prevented Lankan authorities from taking any action regarding this issue.

Declining media reports which suggested that action was to be taken; Chandraguptha said no such ac-

We have liaised with Facebook USA and brought this issue to their notice. However, they have intimated to us that their terms of use protects freedom of speech and due to this we have been prevented from taking any proper action

tion could be taken under prevailing laws.

“We have liaised with Facebook USA and brought this issue to their notice.

However, they have intimated to us that their terms of use protects freedom of speech and due to this we have been prevented from taking any proper

The unit has been specially set up to look into these matters” he said

action,” he said.

SLCERT is the Centre for Cyber security in Sri Lanka, mandated to protect the nation's information infrastructure.

Police spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said all matters with regard to complaints of Facebook have been directed to the computer unit of the Police.

“The unit has been specially set up to look into these matters” he said.

Meanwhile, a source at the “Tell the IGP” unit which handles these complaints said they had received complaints regarding spreading of religious hatred and they were investigating the incidents.

Chandraguptha went on to state that SLCERT was yet to commence talks with regard to the issue with the Justice Ministry.

Many Facebook groups and posts operated by Sri Lankans continue to spread religious hatred and extremism, going so far as to call for the expulsion of certain religious groups from the country.