Facebook moves to head off tougher regulation in Germany

Facebook is stepping up efforts to head off tougher regulation by Germany, a fierce critic of the social media network operator, with top managers visiting Germany and saying they would do more to combat fake news and hate speech.

Top German lawmakers are planning legislation this year to force Facebook to remove incitements to hate crimes from its web pages within 24 hours or face fines, a push that could force the social media giant to bear more responsibility for content posted by users.

German Chancellor Angel Merkel, who is running for a fourth term this year, has warned that the Internet is not "a space that is free from the law."

Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg visited Berlin on Jan. 15 to meet with German government officials considering new regulations on Facebook, according to a Berlin-based source at a rival Internet company.

In an interview with Germany's top-selling daily paper Bild published on Jan. 17, she said Facebook could not single-handedly deal with hate speech and fake news posted on the network but had to work with third parties.

Facebook on Jan. 15 announced a partnership with German third-party fact-checking organization Correctiv, promising to update its social media platforms in Germany "within weeks" to reduce the dissemination of fake news.

"We don't want to decide what the truth is, and I don't believe anyone wants us to do that," said Sandberg, Facebook's second-most powerful executive after founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg.

"When we say that we can't take it on ourselves, that doesn't mean that we don't want to take any responsibility. We do take responsibility."

The issue has taken on more urgency amid concern by Germany's political establishment that a...