Kenyan court allows lawsuit against Meta over role in inflaming Ethiopia’s Tigray violence

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, faces a landmark lawsuit in Kenya over allegations that its platform played a role in inciting ethnic violence during the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia.
The Kenyan High Court has ruled that the case, which involves claims of hate speech and violent content promotion on Facebook, can proceed. This landmark decision marks a significant development in holding tech giants accountable for the content they host. The plaintiffs, two Ethiopian nationals and the Katiba Institute, argue that Facebook’s algorithm amplified harmful content, contributing to violence between 2020 and 2022. One of the claimants, Abrham Meareg, lost his father, professor Meareg Amare, who was murdered after his address was shared on Facebook along with violent threats. The other claimant, Fisseha Tekle, a former Amnesty International researcher, faced online hate for his reporting on the conflict. Both plaintiffs are demanding a $2.4 billion restitution fund for victims and reforms to Facebook’s algorithm to prevent the spread of hate speech.
Meta, which has faced criticism for its handling of content moderation in conflict zones, has denied the allegations, stating it has invested in safety measures and moderation. The tech giant has argued that local courts do not have the power to hear cases against it where it is not registered as a company. However, the court’s decision signals a growing call for greater accountability for tech companies and the ethical responsibility of social media platforms in preventing the spread of harmful content globally. “This ruling offers hope that marginalized groups can access justice no matter where they are in the world,” Mandi Mudarikwa from Amnesty International said. “The idea of looking at countries outside the US and Europe as mere markets where profits can be made in the absence of accountability must be challenged,” she added.