German Facebook boss to be investigated for 'ignoring racist posts'

Hamburg prosecutors say managing director may be held responsible for social platform's alleged failure to remove hate speech

Prosecutors in Hamburg have launched an investigation into the European head of Facebook over the social platform's alleged failure to remove racist hate speech, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor has said.

The move was announced on Tuesday as German politicians and celebrities voiced concern about the rise of xenophobic comments in German on Facebook and on other social media as the country struggles to cope with the influx of about 1 million refugees this year.