Germany ban on online hate speech triggers debate

Internet rights activists and opposition politicians in Germany are outraged at a new law aimed at combating a rising tide of online hate speech.

Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are being forced to remove offensive content or face fines of up to $60m.

The legislation is being widely condemned for allowing the policing of freedom of expression in Germany to be placed in the hands of large, multinational companies based in the United States.

Al Jazeera’s David Chater reports from Berlin.