His son, Abrham, said Facebook users had incited violence against his father, which led to his murder. Whatever the merits of Meareg’s legal claims, his story highlights concerns about the complicated role that Facebook and other social media platforms have played in this violence. The company says it aims to remove material that can be classified as hate speech, misinformation and incitement to violence. The challenges of responsibly operating a social media platform amid Ethiopia’s conflict are enormous. Strengthening traditional local media, including through developing less partisan news sources, is crucial for the flow of reliable on-the-ground information – including on Facebook.

Source: Ethiopian News April 25, 2023 08:26 UTC