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Rohingya refugees have sued Facebook for $150 billion

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Rohingya refugees have sued Facebook for $US150 billion, alleging the platform did not take action to limit the spread of misinformation and hate speech against the Rohingya people. According to the lawsuit, Facebook’s algorithm amplified hate speech and the company’s failure to limit its spread contributed to real-life violence against the Rohingya community.

The lawsuit that was filed in a California court said, “the undeniable reality is that Facebook’s growth, fueled by hate, division, and misinformation, has left hundreds of thousands of devastated Rohingya lives in its wake.”

A Meta (the owner of Facebook) spokesperson said in a statement: “We’re appalled by the crimes committed against the Rohingya people in Myanmar. We’ve built a dedicated team of Burmese speakers, banned the Tatmadaw, disrupted networks manipulating public debate and taken action on harmful misinformation to help keep people safe.” 

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