Facebook has banned 12 prominent far-right groups and leaders that it says “spread hate”.
The ban includes Britain First, the English Defence League (EDL) and the British National Party (BNP) and Nick Griffin, the English Defence.
Britain First which was already banned will now be blocked from garnering any form of support on Facebook.
The U.S. social media giant said it had taken the decision because those involved had advocated a “violent or hateful mission”.
Facebook added in the statement published yesterday: “Individuals and organisations who spread hate, or attack or call for the exclusion of others on the basis of who they are, have no place on Facebook”.
The ban includes:
- Britain First, its leader Paul Golding and former deputy leader Jayda Fransen
- English Defence League and its founding member Paul Ray
- The British National Party and its ex-leader Nick Griffin
- National Front and its leader Tony Martin
- Knights Templar International and its promoter Jim Dowson
- Jack Renshaw, a neo-Nazi who plotted to murder a Labour MP
A Facebook spokesman stated that all those named on the banned list would be blocked from having any presence on their platform.
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Additionally, support or praising these groups and individuals in any capacity would also be prevented.
Facebook said the recent ban went further than the restrictions placed on Britain First in 2018 when its official pages were removed for breaking the site’s community standards.
Yesterday’s decision comes soon after Facebook said it would block “praise, support and representation of white nationalism and separatism” on its main app and Instagram.
Other prominent far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson are already banned on Facebook.
