Facebook erases far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s page over 'hate speech'

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson's Facebook page has been taken down after he used dehumanising language and called for "violence targeted at Muslims".

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson's Facebook page has been taken down. Source: AAP

Facebook has taken down the page and Instagram profile of far-right activist Tommy Robinson after determining he violated policies forbidding hate speech.

The social media giant said on Tuesday in a statement the  former English Defence League leader had posted material using dehumanising language and calling for "violence targeted at Muslims".

Facebook says "this is not a decision we take lightly, but individuals and organisations that attack others on the basis of who they are have no place on Facebook or Instagram".

Robinson arrives for court last year. He was convicted of contempt of court in May. Source: EPA

Tommy Robinson is the pseudonym for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The activist, who founded the anti-Islam English Defence League, has built a large online following with links to international white nationalist and far-right movements

The 35-year-old told Britain's Press Association that he's breached no rules and that "people will be astonished by this censorship".

The ban means that Robinson will not be allowed to set up an official Facebook page or Instagram profile in future.

The far-right activist will also be banned from setting up a new Facebook account. Source: AAP

In January, YouTube suspended advertisements on Mr Robinson's account, alleging he had broken the site's advertising rules. He's also previously been banned from Twitter.

Robinson was jailed in May for contempt of court and sentenced to 13-months jail, sparking a social media movement around "#freetommy".

The conviction was later overturned for procedural reasons.