Thread by @daithaigilbert

In Myanmar, #Facebook ignored warnings about hate speech inciting violence against the Rohingya. The result was a UN report saying said Facebook facilitated a genocide.

Now, in #Ethiopia, Facebook is making the same mistakes all over again

vice.com/en_us/article/…

After the assassination of singer Hachalu Hundessa in June, calls for genocide spread like wildfire on FB, often accompanied hours later by proof the acts had been carried out.

In the resulting clashes, hundreds died and thousands more were injured.

vice.com/en_us/article/…

“When the violence erupts offline, online content that calls for ethnic attacks, discrimination, and destruction of property goes viral. FB's inaction helps propagate hate & polarization & has a devastating impact on the extent of the violence," @btayeg

vice.com/en_us/article/…

The government in Ethiopia shut down the internet but much of the most extreme content was coming from diaspora groups in places like Europe and the US, who continued to post incendiary videos

vice.com/en_us/article/…

Because FB is failing to deal with the situation, volunteers have taken it upon themselves to report the worst content and try and help FB remove it.

Activists say the company has asked repeatedly for help "getting up to speed" on Ethiopia's issues

vice.com/en_us/article/…

FB says it's working on it.

But

It would not tell me who was in charge of the Ethiopia market or how many moderators work on it

It has no full-time employees there.

It's Community Standards are not available in either of Ethiopia's main languages

vice.com/en_us/article/…

"Facebook may not be the perpetrator of violence in Ethiopia, but it is a breeding ground for hate," @btayeg

vice.com/en_us/article/…

Part of the problem for Facebook is — like Myanmar — it has to deal with a country where there are hundreds of languages each with their own nuance and codes — which means FB's AI solution is not an answer.

As @davidakaye points out

vice.com/en_us/article/…