Meta, the creature of Mark Zuckerberg, recently granted its users the opportunity to report hate phrases against Russia and Belarus on social networks.
A difficult measure to accept, which makes us think about the enormous change in modern society.
Why, in such a complex period, incite people to hate? Instead of helping them see the world differently, instead of focusing on those who really need help.
La to Reuters managed to get hold of some of Meta's internal emails.
Based on what has been discovered, it will be possible to write his Zuckerberg social networks (Facebook and Instagram) violent speeches against the Russian authorities involved in the Ukrainian invasion.
Among the violent options allowed, Meta also admits posts calling for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin or his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
The legalization of hate
Meta's provision will be valid for Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Russia would also have been included, had the Duma not decided to delete Instagram as well (after the cancellation of Facebook).
In its defense, the company made the following statement:
These are temporary measures designed to preserve the voice and expression of people facing an invasion. As always, we are banning calls for violence against the Russians outside the narrow context of the current invasion.
Just as the Russian military is preparing to receive a series of "negative comments", the Azov Battalion - a Ukrainian neo-Nazi military unit - can be praised by users.
Meta's new hate acceptance campaign is in fact associated with another measure. We know, thanks to the information gleaned from The Intercept , which the company will allow members to praise the Azov Battalion.
This choice, questionable from several points of view, does nothing but demonstrate the power of Meta.
In just a few seconds, a single company is able to undermine the freedom of expression of the victims, as well as push hundreds of people to the most extreme hatred.
The expected risk
Meta's action, the decision to accept the calls for violence against the Russians, carries with it an enormous risk.
It is not the first time that Meta faces serious accusations - remember his accusation of incitement to genocide - but this time the consequences could be unexpected.
As it is easy to guess, the measure has ignited the fury of the Russians. In response to Zuckerberg's action, Russian regulators have restricted access to Instagram.
Likewise, the country's prosecutors want designate Meta as an "extremist organization".
