The Facebook Boycott needs to be supported by all artists, which is why IHM is joining the cause to #stophateforprofit by removing Facebook advertising from their momentum plans until further action is taken to amend current legislation holding social media platforms liable for hate speech posted on their platforms. On May 28th, President Trump released an executive order on preventing online censorship in relation to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
“Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse,” the President states. “Tens of thousands of Americans have reported, among other troubling behaviors, online platforms “flagging” content as inappropriate, even though it does not violate any stated terms of service; making unannounced and unexplained changes to company policies that have the effect of disfavoring certain viewpoints; and deleting content and entire accounts with no warning, no rationale, and no recourse.”
Originally, the order made it so that platforms would not be held liable for what is posted on their sites. Since then, sites have created censorship policies to protect their users and discourage posts showing extreme resentment towards others. To prevent online censorship, the order focuses on discussing how social media giants are infringing on the first amendment. The aim of the revision to section 230 is to order social media sites to dismantle or greatly loosen their policies on restricting content, this includes content containing hate speech or other potentially harmful expressions of hostility.
The 26 words some are calling the key to section 230 are as follows: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
Mark Zuckerbereg, CEO of Facebook, has refused to enforce stricter guidelines to reduce and stop hate speech or other harmful content. As a result, the Color for Changes “Stop Hate for Profit Campaign” has called on companies to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram until changes in their censorship guidelines occur to protect minorities. One music company that is participating in this campaign is U.K based independent label Cooking Vinyl.
“Until Section 230 is ammended, removing immunity from social media plarforms publishing user’s hate speech, I cannot condone the practices of Mark Zuckerberg and advising our artists to join the Facebook Boycott and not utilize paid promotions to build their momentum while fans are being persecuted, hurt, and in some cases killed due to Facebook’s irresponsibility.”
– Bram Bessoff, Founder & President Indiehitmaker
Companies from numerous other industries have joined the boycott, and it’s time those in the music industry do as well. Some of the most prominent companies include Ben and Jerry’s, Coca-Cola, Eddie Bauer, Hershey’s, Honda, JanSport, Levi Strauss, Patagonia, The North Face, Starbucks, Unilever, and Verizon.
Due to Zuckerberg’s response to the president’s proposal to ease social media platforms’ liability for potentially harmful content posted on their sites, IHM will not be recommending Facebook advertising for any of the artists working with us.
