BNP and EDL among far-right groups banned by Facebook

By Alan McGuinness, news reporter

The British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL) are among a number of far-right groups that have been banned by Facebook.

The groups, as well as key members of their leadership, have been banned from both Facebook or Instagram for violating rules around promoting hate and violence.

Facebook's policy does not allow groups or individuals which engage in "terrorist activity, organised hate, mass or serial murder, human trafficking or organised violence or criminal activity".

Britain First, the National Front and Knights Templar International have also been removed, as well as convicted neo-Nazi Jack Renshaw.

He plotted to kill Labour MP Rosie Cooper and exact revenge on a female police officer who was investigating him for child sex offences.

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Other individuals banned include former BNP leader Nick Griffin, Britain First leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, EDL member Paul Ray, Knights Templar International's Jim Dowson and the National Front's Tony Martin.

The social network said it used an extensive process to work out which people or groups to designate as dangerous.

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This includes whether they have used hate speech and called for or directly carried out acts of violence against others based on factors such as race, ethnicity or national origin.

"Individuals and organisations who spread hate, or attack or call for the exclusion of others on the basis of who they are, have no place on Facebook," a spokeswoman said.

"Under our dangerous individuals and organisations policy, we ban those who proclaim a violent or hateful mission or are engaged in acts of hate or violence.