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Wednesday May 22, 2013

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Ken Lay blasts Facebook for lack of social responsibility

Posted by: Ellen Feely | 5 October, 2012 - 10:24 AM
Ken Lay blasts Facebook for a lack of social responsibility. (Photo: Craig Sillitoe)

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has blasted social media behemoth Facebook for its lack of social responsibility, after Victoria’s top cop revealed on the Neil Mitchell program earlier this week that repeated requests for pages which could jeopardise the legal proceedings involving Jill Meagher’s alleged killer had been denied.

While six pages prejudicial pages were removed during the week, it now appears the administrators of each page may have voluntarily removed the pages – without Facebook’s intervention.

Mr Lay said in turn for Facebook having a community 1 billion users to make money from, they have the social responsibility to invest in the community.

”(Facebook) is sucking an enormous amount of money out of the community, (but) isn't prepared to invest in that community by helping it stay safe and acting in an appropriate manner,” he said.

Facebook posted a $1.2 billion revenue in July this year in its first earnings report since its IPO.

”For Facebook to say to me: ‘well sorry, give me a court order and we'll think about it’, it just frustrates me,” Mr Lay said.

"That's just nonsense to me. If every business behaved like that, we'd be in a sorry state in this community."

Mr Lay said the initiative the Victorian community had shown in calling for the removal of pages which incited violence against Adrian Ernest Bayley, 41, the man accused of Jill Meagher’s rape and murder, and their subsequent removal, was promising.

Mr Lay described the pages as "offensive garbage".

”I just wonder when the users say enough is enough and this shouldn't be tolerated. That's when they'll (Facebook) see the light,” he said.

LISTEN: Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay speaks with Neil Mitchell:

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Blog comments Your Say

  • Sorry cannot find any offensive Jill Meagher on facebook, only condolence pages. Have Neil or any 3AW crew witnessed these apparent disturbing pages?

    Will Shepherd Monday 8 October, 2012 - 11:44 AM

  • Facebook has never shown me any lude or rude images, in fact it is not acceptable to show a woman breastfeeding on facebook. I havent seen the Jill thing as I have no interest apart from the dreadful crime that happened.
    The GAWKERS make such pages possible.

    Will Shepherd Monday 8 October, 2012 - 11:33 AM

  • I don't think the Victorian Commissioner understands that his jurisdiction resides within Victoria only and not anywhere else. So unless he can find a legitimate legal reason to ask for a particular page take down. Than he should contact the relevant authority, but I can tell you right here that it's a complete waste of time to be an Internet crusader.

    Offensive? Being offended is relative, because it's offensive to you, or the vocal minority, doesn't mean it's going to be taken down or should be taken down.

    Does this fellow actually think that Facebook is the only social site on the Internet reporting about this particular news story? Are you going to take down each and every page? People expressing there emotions about particular person?

    We live in the 21st century. Just because this sort of banter is expressed by on internet. The same is being done within people's homes, work, school. People are simply expressing themselves.

    Anthony Monday 8 October, 2012 - 1:21 AM

  • ken said facebook makes alot of money ha ha ha so do you cash register ken all under the banner of safety LOL

    barry Friday 5 October, 2012 - 8:18 PM

  • Sorry I just don't get it excuse me if I seem ignorant but haven't the public got the right to vent their anger Facebook is a form of communication we couldn't vent our anger against vicious crimes in the 60s,70s,80s etc now its available can you blame us this manic confessed to the crime this is a form of control we don't care about the sub justice laws if it was the middle east it would be off with his head enough is enough by the way the judges don't help the public why should we help them.

    poptart Friday 5 October, 2012 - 6:58 PM

  • It is rather stupid of FB to say no,When they clearly close group pages and Games because people complain.
    Why they feel they are above the law i don't understand.
    Because they send one message to the public expecting to be adhered too
    Yet Ignore serious requests from the Police WTF Get Real Face Book

    jo Friday 5 October, 2012 - 11:24 AM

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