Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been permanently banned from Facebook and Instagram for repeatedly posting “dehumanising” and inflammatory content about Muslims.
In a statement explaining the decision, Facebook said that it strove to balance respect for free speech with its responsibility to protect users from hate speech.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“When ideas and opinions cross the line and amount to hate speech that may create an environment of intimidation and exclusion for certain groups in society - in some cases with potentially dangerous offline implications - we take action.
“Tommy Robinson’s Facebook page has repeatedly broken these standards, posting material that uses dehumanising language and calls for violence targeted at Muslims. He has also behaved in ways that violate our policies around organised hate.”
The English Defence League founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, received a final warning from the platform last month, “over posts including one ‘calling Muslims filthy scumbags’ and ‘calling on people to make war on Muslims’”, The Independent reports.
Facebook has been Robinson’s “primary platform for communicating with fans and organising demonstrations”, the newspaper adds, particularly since his ban from Twitter in March last year.
Robinson has a chequered history with the platform, which has enabled him to gain a large online following in international alt-right circles but has also proven something of an Achilles heel.
Last year, he was convicted of contempt of court for broadcasting a Facebook live-stream outside a court hearing a child grooming case.
He was also censured for using the live broadcasting service to falsely accuse a Syrian refugee boy attacked by a fellow pupil at a Huddersfield school of assaulting female classmates.
Robinson “thrives on media attention” and uses his social media presence to present himself as “the victim of a smear campaign designed to keep his views off mainstream outlets”, says The Guardian.
“The decision to ban Robinson from the social media sites could threaten his ability to reach large audiences,” the newspaper adds.
At the time of writing, Robinson’s YouTube account remains active, but the Google-owned platform does not allow ads to appear on his videos, meaning that he does not make money from them.
Another source of revenue was cut off in November 2018, when payment processing service Paypal announced that it would no longer allow Robinson supporters to send him donations.
In response to the news of his Facebook and Instagram ban, Robinson denied that he had done anything wrong, Sky News reports.
“I’ve breached no laws of Facebook,” he said. “What I've done is shown people the truth and that is what they are removing, the truth. People will still find me.”
-
The week’s best photosIn Pictures A monstrous pumpkin, a sumo showdown, and more
-
Western Alaska reels as storm aftermath prompts mass evacuationsUNDER THE RADAR Alaskan lawmakers point to climate change as airlifts relocate hundreds from coastal communities devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong
-
Sudoku hard: October 17, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Rise of the far-right: what’s behind the popularity of Vox in Spain?The Explainer Disillusioned younger voters are being drawn to Santiago Abascal’s party
-
Why Gen Z in Nepal is dying over a state social media banIN THE SPOTLIGHT A crackdown on digital platforms has pushed younger Nepalis into increasingly violent clashes with government forces
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
