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Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

nytimes.com

41–50 of 262 posts

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#41
post #29

I was surprised the article and headline didn't use the world genocide. But it looks like it is consistent with other NY Times articles from the time. This article was published (Nov. 6, 2018) after the UN official declared it a genocide. Yet, genocide doesn't appear in the article. UN official convinced of Myanmar Rohingya ‘genocide’ - March 12, 2018 https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/asia/myanmar-rohingya-un-viol... An…

It's common for American media to minimize any genocide caused by the United States or it's corporations. Holocaust gets a pass because it has a convenient scapegoat.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#42

I guess you could argue Facebook should be shutdown as parlor was. Although parlor was only used for hate, Facebook didn't do anything to stop it either. I think a big issue is how facebooks algo (and others) are built for maximum profit which at the same time also radicalizes people in their filter bubble.

[deleted]

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#43
post #16

From my understanding the Myanmar atrocities were mostly planned in private groups and chats by non notable figures, with private chain messages playing a big part. It's one thing to ban a politician inciting violence. Do you all want FB to monitor all your private messages for keywords, then block those messages?

From what I've read, the atrocities were largely carried out by the military, who also had hundreds of people making fake Facebook accounts to spread their propaganda.

Monitoring private messages likely wasn't even possible as Facebook staff had just four employees capable of understanding the language.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#44
post #7

I'd love Facebook to do more to prevent misuse of its platform, but I don't see why I should blame Facebook for Myanmar violence. Facebook at its core is a tool that helps people spread information and opinions - not too different from the telephone or email. The blame for Myanmar violence should be placed squarely on the people that are spreading misinformation that incites violence. Even if Facebook does a better j…

Those arguments always forget 1 thing. Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you. If they show you posts that incite violence in Myanmar and show you fake news that make you outraged about a certain ethn…

>Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you.

But these all are algorithmic isn't it ? Its not like facebook decided to manually show certain content to some people, unlike the the silencing done to trump.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#45

I guess you could argue Facebook should be shutdown as parlor was. Although parlor was only used for hate, Facebook didn't do anything to stop it either. I think a big issue is how facebooks algo (and others) are built for maximum profit which at the same time also radicalizes people in their filter bubble.

Maybe "parlor was only used for hate" but Parler, no. There is questionable content on Parler as much as is on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#46

There was this "Facebook" riot in Bangalore in 2020, which resulted in death of 3 people in police gunfire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Bangalore_riots

A lot of countries limit Facebook, and it makes sense that the attention on Facebook in the US is related to their US activities. India has responded to Facebook for their activities in India.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Facebook

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#47
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those arguments always forget 1 thing. Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you. If they show you posts that incite violence in Myanmar and show you fake news that make you outraged about a certain ethn…

>Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you. But these all are algorithmic isn't it ? Its not like facebook decided to manually show certain content to some people, unlike the the silencing done to trump.

People develop algorithms. They aren't some neutral force of nature, like a tornado. These are choices.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#48
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those arguments always forget 1 thing. Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you. If they show you posts that incite violence in Myanmar and show you fake news that make you outraged about a certain ethn…

>Facebook recommend users to join groups, follow pages, and even shows content that is not from people you follow. So it isn't just a telephone company that allows you to make phone calls, it's a service that makes an editorial choice about what they show you. But these all are algorithmic isn't it ? Its not like facebook decided to manually show certain content to some people, unlike the the silencing done to trump.

Facebook manipulated user’s emotions for science without user consent.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/06/28/facebook...

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#49
post #30

WhatsApp is even more dangerous in developing countries, and is used to spread dangerous rumors at rapid scale. This has resulted in public lynching just based on false rumors

Any unmoderated instant messager can be used to spread rumors at rapid scale.

Re: Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar (2018)

#50

I guess you could argue Facebook should be shutdown as parlor was. Although parlor was only used for hate, Facebook didn't do anything to stop it either. I think a big issue is how facebooks algo (and others) are built for maximum profit which at the same time also radicalizes people in their filter bubble.

Should we shut down radio too, since radio is frequently used in guerilla warfare?

The technology isn’t the problem - the people feeling violent is. How very American is it that we want to immediately stamp out dissenting voices rather than actually solving the problem that these people disagree with (whatever it may be).

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