Facebook agrees to pull fake Newtown ‘memorial’ pages

Facebook has agreed to remove fake Newtown memorial pages, following a letter from Connecticut politicians asking the social network to do so. They feared that the pages had been set up to exploit the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary.

AllFacebook notes that Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty sent a letter to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Monday morning requesting that the pages be taken down.

“The horrific Newtown tragedy shocked and shook Connecticut and the nation, capturing hearts worldwide. Unfortunately it also apparently attracted less worthy attention,” they wrote. “We recognize that Facebook receives a large volume of reports and requests each day, but this issue deserves and needs priority enforcement of your own well-established policies. We trust you will do the right thing.”

In their letter to Facebook, the lawmakers noted that there are hundreds of pages dedicated just to teacher Victoria Soto. Kaitlin Roig, a teacher who survived the shootings, has also been featured as a victim of harassment by Facebook commenters.

Hours later, The Associated Press reports that Facebook agreed to do it. Although Facebook representatives didn’t comment, Blumenthal confirmed that he received a phone call during which he was promised that pages were already being removed.