Facebook wants to ban “harmful networks” from its platform worldwide - and has therefore now deleted almost 150 “lateral thinking” channels.
Berlin - A clear step: Facebook has deleted almost 150 accounts and groups on its platforms that the Internet company assigns to the controversial "lateral thinking" movement.
According to information from the dpa, Facebook announced on Thursday that it is the first targeted action worldwide that is directed against a group that causes “coordinated social harm”.
The accounts of "Querdenker" founder Michael Ballweg are also affected.
Facebook deletes "lateral thinking" channels - WhatsApp is not affected
The campaign is directed against “lateral thinkers” on Facebook and Instagram.
The WhatsApp chat service, which is also part of the Facebook group, is not affected.
Facebook manager Gleicher accused the lateral thinkers of repeatedly violating Facebook's community standards in a coordinated manner.
"This includes the publication of health-related misinformation, hate speech and incitement to violence."
Facebook has also identified a list of lateral thinkers' websites that can no longer be linked on Facebook: "We have removed links to domains of the lateral thinking movement from our platform."
"Think outside the box" accounts on Facebook deleted - some people used duplicate accounts
The "harmful network" was operated by people who were associated with violence outside the platform and other "social harm".
Authentic users are usually involved in these coordinated campaigns.
However, people on the network also used duplicate accounts to post and distribute harmful content.
"Lateral thinking" primarily focuses on promoting the conspiracy narrative that the German government's Covid-19 * restrictions are part of a larger plan to deprive citizens of their freedoms and fundamental rights.
The "lateral thinking" movement is now being observed by various state offices for the protection of the constitution. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has the scene as a "collective observation object" in its sights, similar to Salafism. Secret service resources can also be used for surveillance, and bank accounts and financial flows between the actors can be screened.
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