Facebook bans Holocaust denial

Facebook is banning Holocaust denial on its platform, with the social media giant saying it is concerned by rising anti-Semitism, in the latest move restricting controversial content.

“If people search for the Holocaust on Facebook, we’ll start directing you to authoritative sources to get accurate information,’’ Facebook Chief, Mark Zuckerberg, said on Monday.

Zuckerburg said he has “struggled with the tension’’ between protecting free speech and limiting hateful content.

“Drawing the right lines between what is and isn’t acceptable speech isn’t straightforward, but with the current state of the world, I believe this is the right balance,’’ Zuckerburg said.

Last week, Facebook said it was removing any group or page that openly identified with QAnon, a conspiracy theory group that holds some far-right views but largely believes that a cabal of paedophiliac Satanists run the world.

The move also applies to Instagram.

The social media giant also announced restrictions on intentional disinformation on the coronavirus and posts designed to suppress voting.

The platform has been under pressure to moderate more content amid signs that groups like QAnon were able to gain traction through social media.