London: Facebook has banned far-right groups including the British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL) from having any presence on the social network for violating the site's rules around promoting hate and violence.

Far-right group, English Defence League leader, Tommy Robinson, left, with EDL supporters. Credit:AP

The banned groups, which also includes Knights Templar International, Britain First and the National Front as well as key members of their leadership, have been removed from both Facebook and Instagram.

The social network's policy does not allow groups or individuals which engage in "terrorist activity, organised hate, mass or serial murder, human trafficking or organised violence or criminal activity".

Facebook said it uses an extensive process to determine which people or groups it designates as dangerous, using signals such as whether they have used hate speech, and called for or directly carried out acts of violence against others based on factors such as race, ethnicity or national origin.