First, read: “The Case For Deplatforming: National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM)”.
It is easy to deplatform neo-Nazi NSBM (‘National Socialist Black Metal’) bands from the many online platforms with ‘Terms and Conditions’ or ‘Acceptable Use Policies’ which prohibit calls to violence, dehumanising language around race or religion, and hate speech in general. The platforms just need to be told about the Nazis breaking their rules and the pages will be deleted.
This guide provides guidance for the main platforms which NSBM bands operate on. Activists who follow the steps in this guide will be able to take down Nazi black metal band pages very easily. They could expect an 80% success rate.
If you can write an email you can deplatform a Nazi black metal band. It is very satisfying. You should try it.
—
General Tips for Contacting Web Hosts
- Be specific and explicit: Remember that the support team at tech companies are probably not familiar with the NSBM scene. Keep your language clear and unambiguous. Get straight to the point in your first message.
- Explain acronyms: ‘NSBM’, ‘1488’, ‘WAR’.
- Explain symbols: Wolfsangels, Sunwheels, Runes.
- Provide supporting evidence: Screenshots, interviews, articles.
- Be polite and upbeat: Support teams have hard jobs. Be sure to remain pleasant.
- Be patient. It may take weeks for a reply.
- One band or label per email: Do not overwhelm support teams with long lists of bands and labels. Tackle one at a time.
- Match your complaint to their terms: Do not complain about subjective things (“the music sucks”, “the singer is an idiot”, “the artwork is gross”). Only write about the specific violations of the provider’s terms of use.
- Take your time: Compiling information about Nazis is a slow and boring process. Take the time to ensure your report is as perfect as it can be.
—
Useful Resources
- Anti Defamation League: Hate Symbols Database
- A Crash Course in Far-Right Symbols
- Metal Archives
- Wikipedia: NSBM
- Wikipedia: Wotansvolk
- Bellingcat Investigations
—
Example Message
Hi team,
The page USERNAME advertises the neo-Nazi band BAND from the ‘National Socialist Black Metal’ (NSBM) scene. They use SERVICE to advertise their music and merchandise.
You can read an overview of BAND here: (Metal-Archives link)
Note their references to SYMBOL – this means EXPLANATION.
Note that in TRACK they write “RACIST STATEMENT”.
It seems that BAND‘s presence on your platform breaks Rule 1 – “No Nazis”
Please can you delete this page and ban the user from your service?
Kind regards.
—
Bandcamp
The ‘Rules and Conduct’ section of Bandcamp’s ‘Terms of Use’ says: “You shall not (and shall not permit any third party to) either (a) take any action or (b) upload, download, post, submit or otherwise distribute or facilitate distribution of any content on or through the Service, including without limitation any User Submission, that […] is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another’s privacy, tortious, obscene, offensive, or profane.” This is the paragraph that will apply to most NSBM bands. You may like to reference it.
Every Bandcamp page has a ‘Report this Track/Album or Account’ link on the right side (on desktop) or in the footer (on mobile). Using this page you can select that the band is ‘offensive or abusive’. This will take you to a web form.
Big Cartel
Section F of Big Cartel’s ‘Terms of Service’ says: “You may not use the Site or the Services to […] post content or information that is obscene, hateful, threatening, defamatory, includes child pornography, or creates a risk to anyone’s privacy or safety.” This is the paragraph that will apply to most NSBM bands. You may like to reference it.
You should email Big Cartel at support@bigcartel.com.
Facebook will not delete the pages of NSBM bands unless their content is very explicit or the band is very infamous. You may like to send a report anyway but it is unlikely to result in any action.
MixCloud
Mixcloud’s Terms and Conditions has a section titled “4. User Submissions Prohibited Uses” which says: “you will not: […] submit material that is unlawful, defamatory, libellous, slanderous, threatening, pornographic, obscene, vulgar, harassing, harmful, hateful, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive or is otherwise inappropriate”. This is the paragraph that will apply to most NSBM bands. You may like to reference it.
You should submit a support request through the form here.
Soundcloud
The ‘Hate Speech’ section of Soundcloud’s ‘Community Guidelines’ says: “We do not, however, allow content that promotes or encourages hatred, discrimination or violence against others based on race, cultural identity or ethnic background, religious beliefs, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We will use our discretion when necessary to determine if beliefs or opinions incite hatred. Please keep in mind that applicable laws state that Nazi and ISIS content is illegal, and will be removed without discussion, unless clearly used for educational or journalistic purposes.” This is the paragraph that will apply to most NSBM bands. You may like to reference it.
You should email Soundcloud on abuse@soundcloud.com.
Shopify
Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy says: “Merchants may not use the Services to promote or condone hate or violence against people based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, veteran status or other forms of discriminatory intolerance. Merchants may not use the Services to promote or support organizations, platforms or people that: (i) promote or condone such hate; or (ii) threaten or condone violence to further a cause.”
You can report a violation of the above through this form.
Square
Square’s ‘General Terms of Service’ says: “You will not upload or provide Content or otherwise post, transmit, distribute, or disseminate through the Services any material that: (a) is false, misleading, unlawful, obscene, indecent, lewd, pornographic, defamatory, libelous, threatening, harassing, hateful, abusive, or inflammatory.” This is the paragraph that applies to NSBM bands. You may like to reference it.
You should email Square on community@squareup.com.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ says: “Don’t condone or promote violence against any person or group based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, age or disability.” This is the paragraph that will apply to most NSBM bands, so you may like to reference it.
You should email Squarespace on abuse
