Meta is being sued for $2.4bn (£1.8bn) by the owner of Facebook, alleging that it stoked violence in Ethiopia following a ruling by the Kenyan high court that a court case against the US tech company could proceed.
Allegations Against Facebook’s Algorithm
The case filed by two Ethiopian citizens challenges Facebook to change its algorithm to prevent promoting of hateful content and violence inciting, and recruit additional content moderators in Africa. It is also asking for a $2.4bn “restitution fund” for the victims of hate and violence stirred on Facebook.
Victims and Their Stories
One of the applicants is Prof Meareg Amare Abrha’s son, who was killed in his house in Ethiopia after his address and threatening messages were posted on Facebook in 2021 when there was a civil war in the nation. Another applicant is Fisseha Tekle, a former researcher with Amnesty International who released reports on violence perpetrated during the conflict in Tigray in northern Ethiopia and was sent death threats on Facebook.
Jurisdiction Ruling by Kenyan High Court
Meta had claimed that Kenyan courts, where Facebook’s Ethiopia moderators operated at the time, lacked jurisdiction over the case. The Kenyan high court in Nairobi decided on Thursday that the case fell within the jurisdiction of the country’s courts.
Plaintiffs Speak Out
Abrham Meareg, son of Meareg, stated: “I appreciate the court’s ruling today. It is shameful that Meta would make the argument that they shouldn’t be held accountable to the rule of law in Kenya. African lives matter.”
Tekle explained he cannot go back home to Ethiopia due to Meta’s inability to make Facebook secure. “Meta can’t turn back the harm it’s caused, but it can fundamentally alter how it moderates harmful content on all its platforms to ensure that no one else has to endure what I have endured,” he stated. “I’m glad this issue is now going to be heard by the court in its entirety.”
Support from Human Rights Organizations
The case, backed by non-profit groups such as Foxglove and Amnesty International, also calls for a formal apology from Meta for Meareg’s murder. The Katiba Institute, an NGO based in Kenya that specializes in the Kenyan constitution, is the third party to the case.
Investigation into Facebook’s Role
In 2022 an investigation by the Observer and Bureau of Investigative Journalism discovered that Facebook was allowing users to put up content fueling violence via hate and disinformation, though it knew this was inflaming tensions in Tigray.
Response to the Accusations by Meta
Meta denied the accusations then, stating it had “invested in safety and security measures” to address hate and inflammatory content as well as “aggressive measures to prevent the spread of misinformation” in Ethiopia.
Recent Policy Changes by Meta
The business announced in January that it was deleting factcheckers and “dramatically” decreasing the level of censorship on the platform, although it would still address unlawful and high-severity violations.
Meta said it did not comment on ongoing legal matters.