Facebook Inc. yesterday told users it can take down or block any content that could increase regulatory or legal risks for the social media giant around the world – even if the content itself isn’t illegal.
The broad language of a global change to its terms of service, which takes effect Oct. 1, gives the U.S. giant room to do whatever it deems necessary to maintain its business objectives in a shifting regulatory environment.
Facebook said the change allows it to block people and publishers in Australia from sharing news, pushing back against a proposed law forcing the company to pay media firms for their articles. But a company spokesperson said the tweak applies globally.
“We also can remove or restrict access to your content, services or information if we determine that doing so is reasonably necessary to avoid or mitigate adverse legal or regulatory impacts to Facebook,” the smartphone notification sent to users yesterday read.
The update stands in contrast to Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg’s public statements about the importance of free speech. Bloomberg
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