Facebook ‘lets vigilantes in Ethiopia incite ethnic killing’

Facebook is under renewed scrutiny this weekend, accused of continuing to allow activists to incite ethnic massacres in Ethiopia's escalating war.

Analysis by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and the Observer found Facebook is still letting users post content inciting violence through hate and misinformation. This is despite being aware it helps directly fuel tensions, prompting claims of inaction and indifference against the social media giant.

The investigation tracked down relatives who have linked Facebook posts to the killings of loved ones. One senior member of Ethiopia's media accused the firm of "standing by and watching the country fall apart".

The accusations arrive amid intensifying focus on Facebook's content moderation decisions, with it previously being accused of playing a role in the ethnic persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

On Wednesday, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg revealed that former UK deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, would be president of global affairs, a move designed to help the rebranded company repair its reputation following the testimony of whistleblower Frances Haugen, who said it was "literally fanning ethnic violence" in Ethiopia.

It also comes as Facebook considers launching an independent inquiry into its work in Ethiopia after its oversight board urged it to investigate how the platform had been used to spread hate speech.

TBIJ and Observer investigators also interviewed a number of fact-checkers, civil society organisations and human rights activists in the country. They described Facebook's support as far less than it should be.