–Gov’t urged to get tech companies work on matter
Hate speech has become pervasive in social media with global calls on big tech companies to tighten online content regulation. And, experts are urging Ethiopia to closely work with the companies to curtail the growing national threat.
With the number of mobile subscribers and social media users increasing, the experts stressed need for a coordinated measure to mitigate the threat whose repercussion could prove more serious in diverse populations like Ethiopia.
Over the years, the spread of hate speeches, bullying, and fake information has seen upticks with the expansion of social media shootings, terrorist attacks, and divisive acts which according to experts are ascribable to the growing online hate speeches.
From the U.S. to the European Union, countries continue to put more pressure on tech companies to ensure regulated online content. Lately, the U.S. Senate subpoenaed bigwig tech companies for Q and A session. During a recent intense hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed his apologies to families who have reported that their children suffered harm as a result of social media usage.
It is customary for social media platform CEOs to face questioning in the U.S. and other developed countries. However, the responsibility of social media service providers for the unethical content and its impact in developing countries remains a contentious issue.
Countries like Ethiopia have experienced the detrimental effects of hate speech and the dissemination of fake information through various social media platforms, leading to instability, turmoil, ethnic clashes, and numerous other problems.
A report released last year by the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) indicated that Facebook accounts for the highest share of hate speech in the conflict that occurred in northern part of Ethiopia.
The companies’ accountability for the content on their platforms is not on par with that in developed countries. While some platforms have established liaison offices in Africa in recent years, the impact and user base remain relatively limited, possibly due to a lack of understanding of local laws or regulations.
Social media has had a detrimental effect in Ethiopia since the new government came into power in 2018, linking it to conflicts in states like Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara. Berhan cited examples of ethnic tension, killings, fear-mongering, and the propagation of hate speech and violence-inciting content online, said BerhanTaye, who is a Technology and Society researcher.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Berhan expressed deep concern over the consequences of such content, including targeted assassinations of government officials and civilians. Platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and TikTok exacerbate the country’s problems and bear direct responsibility for the harm caused to individuals.
She highlighted the challenges faced by Ethiopia, such as economic struggles, and emphasized that dealing with the problems arising from social media platforms becomes even more daunting.
EMACommunication Affairs Executive Officer,Abdu Alistated that discussions were held with Facebook to establish guidelines aligned with Ethiopia’s community guidelines. As a result, an agreement was reached to track the dissemination of fake information and hate speech on the platform and ensure timely responses.
“Facebook has made significant changes to comply with Ethiopia’s proclamation, which requires social media companies to remove content containing fake information or hate speech within 24 hours.”
However, Berhan criticizes the lack of accountability and implementation despite the existence of laws to address these issues.
Berhan calls for an open and honest dialogue between the government and social media platforms, emphasizing the need for more effective governance and regulation. She firmly believes that social media content plays a significant role in the chaos in Ethiopia and emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue.
Ministry of Justice’sLegal Education Training Assistant Attorney General Mesfin Mekonen elaborated that Ethiopia has a legal framework, including the “Broadcast Law 1238/13 Article 8,” which requires institutions and service providers to make efforts to control and prevent the spread of hate speech and false information.
The law also mandates that if hate speech is detected on their platforms and a complaint is received, the content must be filtered and deleted within 24 hours. However, the actual implementation of these measures requires further investigation.
Mesfin suggests that institutions should be reviewed, and reports on their performance should be submitted. While according to the Broadcast law, these institutions may not face direct penalties, they bear responsibility for the spread of hate speech and false information, because the law not state direct penalty on them.
The interviewees suggest that addressing this issue requires collective action and regulation of the platforms. It is also important to create awareness about the responsible use of social media and promote media literacy at various levels.
BY EYUEL KIFLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 29 MARCH 2024
