Link to Article: Meta Accused of Stroking Human Rights Abuses in Ethiopia’s Tigray
During the November 2020 to November 2022 armed conflict in northern Ethiopia Tigrayans were subject to abuse on Meta platforms. Accusations have been made that Meta made no such actions to curb the advocating content of hatred toward the minority group. With peace agreements of the war being made on November 3, 2022 the physical harm to Tigrayan civilians ended with gates of mental harm being opened. With serious human rights abuses being accused of Meta the ‘lighting rod’ for ethnic conflict in Ethiopia has escalated.
Social injustice and inequality is a real and apparent threat for the Tigrayan people. Causing there to be an even more apparent divide between Tigray and Ethiopia. Social injustice is more targeted toward more vulnerable groups. When vulnerable groups are targeted they tend to lash out. With discriminatory behavior being a cause of fear and oppression, the people of Tygra may feel reason to cause aggression within Ethiopia. Coming out of a civil conflict having aggression is the last thing that is needed on the agenda for either of these ethnic groups.
With different perspectives and outlooks of this situation there are different approaches to how it should be handled. More of a liberal approach would be for the people of Tigray to forgive and forget. Even though such actions may prove to be very difficult for many people. Realists’ approach may consist of aggressive behavior and fighting back. From a Meta perspective conflict and aggression would not be good for reputation. As an MNC Meta influence spans across the globe. News of starting contention in a region right out of civil war would not be good for their reputation causing a loss of online traffic which could lead to loss of profits. Meta could attempt to make amends by taking somewhat of a liberal approach and finally attempt to put an end to the abusive behavior being put on display on their platform.
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