Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the UN’s human rights chief, says Facebook could be facing war crimes for allowing hate speech in Burma. All resulting in atrocities against civilians. He warns it could make Facebook an accessory before the fact
His warning comes after a report about the war crimes being committed in Burma. Al-Hussein says Facebook could be held culpable for future human rights violations because they allow the hate speech to be seen online.
A searing United Nations report on Monday called for the investigation and prosecution of Burma’s top military generals for genocide and accused Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s civilian leader, of failing to use her “moral authority” to prevent violence against the Rohingya minority in Rakhine state.
Among the senior military leader who the report by a UN fact-finding mission believes should go on trial is Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief. It calls for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Facebook has since removed a few dozen pages including that of the commander in chief of Burmese forces. But Al-Hussein warned them they need to learn a lesson from this in the future or they risk being included in war crimes trials.
Mr Al-Hussein suggested that Facebook should be regulated by international human rights law, instead of by national governments.
His comments came in response to Donald Trump warning Facebook and other internet companies to “be careful” after accusing them of a left-wing bias. The US president has said the companies of favoring anti-Trump news and promised that the situation “will be addressed”.
Facebook has denied bias, but it has come under further scrutiny after a group of its own employees have accused the company of a “political monoculture that’s intolerant of different views”.
I disagree with this. I want to see our government regulate the social media based on our freedom of speech. Rather than the liberal leaning of the UN.