Senator Fraser Anning’s Facebook taken down

FACEBOOK has taken down Fraser Anning’s page, sparking outrage from the Katter’s Australian Party senator.

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FACEBOOK has taken down Fraser Anning’s page, sparking outrage from the Katter’s Australian Party senator.

Senator Anning had posted a series of statements and videos on the page calling for a ban on Muslim migration to Australia, as well as footage of his maiden speech to parliament, in which he used the Nazi-associated term “final solution”.

Katter's Australia Party (KAP) Senator Fraser Anning, right, with KAP Federal leader Bob Katter, left. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

“Free speech is under attack and communication is being regulated by foreign companies with tendencies of political bias,” the Queensland senator wrote on Twitter on Friday.

“This is completely unacceptable and we will fight this.”

Facebook has just taken the unprecedented step in unpublishing a Commonwealth Politicians page. Free speech is under attack, and communication is being regulated by foreign companies with tendencies of political bias. This is completely unacceptable and we will fight this. pic.twitter.com/J81lkECREP

— Senator Fraser Anning (@fraser_anning) September 28, 2018

Facebook has an appeals process in regard to its “Pages Terms”. The company declined to comment on whether complaints triggered the page removal.

Facebook employs dedicated teams and technical systems to detect misuse of the social media platform, as well as “harmful conduct towards others, and situations where we may be able to help support or protect our community”.

“If we learn of content or conduct like this, we will take appropriate action — for example, offering help, removing content, blocking access to certain features, disabling an account, or contacting law enforcement.”

Senator Anning sparked fury among parliamentarians and the public with his maiden speech in August when he called for a ban on Muslim immigration and a plebiscite, saying “the final solution to the immigration problem of course is a popular vote”.