Meta, Mark Zuckerberg's creation, recently gave its users the ability to report hate speeches against Russia and Belarus on social media.
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 Reuters managed to get hold of some of Meta's internal emails.
Based on what has been discovered, it will be possible to write violent speeches on Zuckerberg's social networks (Facebook and Instagram) 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 reported the following statement:
These are temporary measures designed to preserve the voice and expression of people facing an invasion. As always, we are prohibiting calls for violence against Russians outside the narrow context of the current invasion.
Just as the Russian army is preparing to receive a series of "negative comments", the Azov Battalion – a Ukrainian neo-Nazi military unit – will be able to be praised by users.
Meta's new hate acceptance campaign is in fact associated with another measure. We know, thanks to the information obtained 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 victims, as well as push hundreds of people to the most extreme hatred.
The expected risk
Meta's action, the decision to accept calls for violence against the Russians, carries with it enormous risk.
It is not the first time that Meta risks serious accusations – we remember his accusation of incitement to genocide – but this time the consequences could be unexpected.
As is easy to imagine, the measure ignited the fury of the Russians. In response to Zuckerberg's action, Russian regulators have limited access to Instagram.
Likewise, the country's prosecutors want designate Meta as an “extremist organisation”.
