Germany cracks down on online hate

The German parliament has passed a law aimed at cracking down on hate speech on social networks, which critics say could have drastic consequences for free speech online.

The measure is designed to enforce the country's existing limits on speech, including the long-standing ban on Holocaust denial.

Among other things, it would fine social networking sites up to 50 million euros ($A73 million) if they persistently fail to remove illegal content within a week, including defamatory "fake news."

Justice Minister Heiko Maas argued that social media networks have failed to prevent their sites from being used to spread inflammatory views and false information.

Human rights experts and internet companies said the law risks privatising the process of censorship and could have a chilling effect on free speech.