Meta is facing a $2.4bn lawsuit for allegedly promoting violence in Ethiopia through Facebook. The case, supported by Ethiopian nationals and human rights groups, calls for changes to content moderation and compensation for victims. The Kenyan court ruled that the case can proceed, despite Meta's objections.

Meta is facing a $2.4bn (£1.8bn) lawsuit accusing the company of exacerbating violence in Ethiopia. This follows a decision by the Kenyan High Court, which ruled that a legal case against the Facebook parent company could proceed. The lawsuit, filed by two Ethiopian nationals, calls for Facebook to change its algorithm to prevent the promotion of hateful content and incitement to violence. The plaintiffs are also requesting that Meta hire more content moderators in Africa. Additionally, they are seeking a restitution fund of $2.4bn for the victims of the hate and violence reportedly incited on Facebook.

One of the claimants is the son of Prof. Meareg Amare Abrha, a prominent figure who was murdered at his home in Ethiopia. His address and threats against him were posted on Facebook during the civil war in Ethiopia in 2021. Another claimant, Fisseha Tekle, a former researcher at Amnesty International, published reports about violence during the Tigray conflict and received death threats through Facebook.

Meta has argued that Kenyan courts, where its Ethiopia moderators were based at the time, do not have jurisdiction over the case. However, the Kenyan High Court in Nairobi ruled that the case is within its jurisdiction.

Abraham Meareg, the son of Prof. Meareg, expressed gratitude for the court's decision, criticizing Meta’s attempt to avoid accountability. "It is disgraceful that Meta would argue that they should not be subject to the rule of law in Kenya. African lives matter," he said.

Tekle, who cannot return to Ethiopia due to the threats he received, also spoke out, urging Meta to change its moderation practices. “Meta cannot undo the damage it has done, but it can radically change how it moderates dangerous content across all its platforms to make sure no one else has to go through what I have,” he said. “I look forward to this matter now being heard by the court in full.”

The case is supported by several non-profit organizations, including Foxglove and Amnesty International, and demands that Meta issue a formal apology for the murder of Prof. Meareg. The Katiba Institute, a Kenya-based NGO focused on the Kenyan constitution, is also involved as a third claimant.

An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Observer in 2022 found that Facebook allowed users to post content that incited violence through hate speech and misinformation, even though the platform was aware that its actions were stoking tensions in Tigray.

At the time, Meta rejected the allegations, stating that it had invested in safety and security measures to tackle hate speech and inflammatory language, and had taken aggressive steps to stop the spread of misinformation in Ethiopia.

In January, Meta announced that it was removing fact-checkers and reducing censorship on the platform, though it would continue to address illegal and high-severity violations. The company has stated that it does not comment on ongoing legal matters.