Mark Zuckerberg's firm is directly singled out.

Facebook's algorithm systems "promoted violence against the Rohingya" and Meta "owes reparations" to the victims for allowing hate messages against this ethnic minority to spread on its platform, says the organization Amnesty International in a report.

"The dangerous algorithms of Meta, which owns Facebook, as well as the unbridled pursuit of profit contributed considerably to the atrocities perpetrated by the Myanmar army against the Rohingya people in 2017", denounces the NGO.

The human rights organization believes that "Meta knew or should have known that Facebook's algorithm systems were amplifying the spread of harmful anti-Rohingya content in Myanmar", but "this company refrained from 'to act ".

Online hate has contributed 'to the occurrence of violence in real life'

In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled a bloody crackdown by the army and Buddhist militias in Burma.

Testimonies have reported murders, rapes and arson.

About 850,000 members of this minority live in makeshift camps in Bangladesh after fleeing.

Some 600,000 others are in Rakhine State, Burma.

"In the months and years leading up to these atrocities, Facebook's algorithms escalated the wave of hatred against the Rohingya, contributing to real-life violence," said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International. .

“Meta took advantage of this sounding board created by its algorithms”

Meta has “every interest” in ensuring that Facebook users stay as long as possible on the platform, “because this allows it to sell even more targeted advertising”, notes Amnesty.

“While the Myanmar military was committing crimes against humanity against the Rohingyas, Meta was taking advantage of this sounding board created by its algorithms which induced a dizzying rise in the feeling of hatred.

Meta must be accountable.

This company now has the responsibility to provide reparation to all the people who have suffered from the violence caused by its irresponsible actions,” insists Amnesty.

Three complaints filed in the United Kingdom and the United States

For Amnesty International, it is “absolutely essential” that Meta carry out a “vast reform of its algorithm systems (…) otherwise the tragedy that links Meta and the Rohingyas risks being reproduced elsewhere in the world, in particular there. where ethnic violence smolders”.

In a statement, Rafael Frankel, public affairs manager for Asia Pacific emerging markets at Meta, said the company supports efforts "to hold the Tatmadaw (Burmese military) to account for its crimes against the Rohingya ".

The official did not respond specifically to Amnesty's calls for redress, but said their efforts 'to ensure the safety and probity of our work in Burma remain guided by the feedback we have from local civil society organizations. and international institutions”.

Three complaints have been filed in the United Kingdom and the United States by representatives of the Rohingyas and are currently being examined.

World

Bangladesh: The main dates of the five years of exile of the Rohingyas of Burma

high tech

Rohingya refugees sue Facebook for $150 billion

  • Burma

  • Amnesty International

  • Rohingya

  • Facebook

  • By the Web

  • Meta

  • Army