THREAD: How Facebook's facilitation of antiquities trafficking can feed conflicts.
Here, a user in Yemen posts a Quran for sale in a Facebook group for manuscript and antiquities trafficking.
The group was created last month despite FB's June policy banning such activity.
Here, a user in Yemen posts a Quran for sale in a Facebook group for manuscript and antiquities trafficking.
The group was created last month despite FB's June policy banning such activity.
The user's Facebook page lists his location in Sana'a, Yemen.
Sana'a's old city is a @UNESCO World Heritage site that has played an important role in both Arab and Islamic history. whc.unesco.org/en/list/385/
In recent years, the area has been devastated by conflict.
Sana'a's old city is a @UNESCO World Heritage site that has played an important role in both Arab and Islamic history. whc.unesco.org/en/list/385/
In recent years, the area has been devastated by conflict.
A deeper look at this user's Facebook profile shows that he "likes" (and follows) multiple pages for the sale of weapons.
Much of Sana'a has been captured by Houthi forces, who are mired in a conflict against Sunni tribes and their allies including Saudi Arabia.
Much of Sana'a has been captured by Houthi forces, who are mired in a conflict against Sunni tribes and their allies including Saudi Arabia.
A visit to one of the gun sale pages shows that weapons in conflict zones are trafficked as freely on Facebook as antiquities.
The page is offering weapons for sale. These conflict weapon sales are being facilitated by a US company's platform, is Facebook violating US sanctions?
The page is offering weapons for sale. These conflict weapon sales are being facilitated by a US company's platform, is Facebook violating US sanctions?
Facebook's own data identifies the page owner as located in Yemen - for a page that is illegally selling weapons on the platform.
This mean's Facebook is knowingly facilitating this activity that may violate US sanctions home.treasury.gov/system/files/1…
This mean's Facebook is knowingly facilitating this activity that may violate US sanctions home.treasury.gov/system/files/1…
Facebook's algorithm even recommends *more* pages selling conflict weapons through its "Related Pages" feature.
We've previously discussed how poor Facebook's AI is when it comes to things like weapons.
Just two weeks ago ATHAR reported a weapon for sale in violation of Facebook's rules. Facebook's AI found it didn't go against their policies so FB took no action
Just two weeks ago ATHAR reported a weapon for sale in violation of Facebook's rules. Facebook's AI found it didn't go against their policies so FB took no action
https://twitter.com/ATHARProject/status/1333463295785889792?s=20
On December 6, another user listed in Yemen posted available antiquities.
The user posted gold coin in a Facebook antiquities trafficking group with over 111k members. He was seeking input on its price, a common tactic used to solicit buyers.
The user posted gold coin in a Facebook antiquities trafficking group with over 111k members. He was seeking input on its price, a common tactic used to solicit buyers.
Group members reply to the user's post to offer pricing thoughts, 500 Turkish Lira, $250, & the weight of the coin in gold.
Both genuine and fake coins that are made of gold are often offered in weight. The value of the raw gold—particularly in conflict zones—is more attractive.
Both genuine and fake coins that are made of gold are often offered in weight. The value of the raw gold—particularly in conflict zones—is more attractive.
The user who posted the gold coin does not list his location, however his profile job listing states that he "works at" the Southern Liberation Front.
This is how militants can easily finance through antiquities trafficking facilitated by Facebook
This is how militants can easily finance through antiquities trafficking facilitated by Facebook
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