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Facebook has published the findings of an independent assessment of its role in the recent genocide in Myanmar. In short, the company admits that it was not doing enough to prevent its network from "being used to foment division and incites offline violence," but it argues it's already started making the changes necessary to prevent it from happening again. However, while the report shows that the company has made progress, it is about moderation, it stops it.
Facebook's handling of the Myanmar crisis has been criticized by everyone from activists to the United Nations. Back in May, a coalition of activists from Myanmar, Syria, and six other countries, made three specific demands of the social network. This coalition is for the purpose of self-sustainability, an independent and worldwide public audit, and a public commitment to equal enforcement of standards across all jurisdictions.
Facebook's report is a mixed bag. Since it has been conducted by the Business for Social Responsibility, an independent nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, it certainly qualifies as independent, but it stops short of the worldwide audit that the coalition called for. Although it is important to keep in mind the importance of transparency in relation the future.
The coalition 's final demand – that is one of the most difficult to evaluate. Every country is unique and crucial For example, Facebook notes Myanmar is one of the largest online communities in the world. Instead, it uses the Zawgyi typeface, which Facebook claims makes it much harder to detect offending posts. Facebook wants Myanmar to transition to Unicode, and it says it has removed Zawgyi has an option for new users.
Myanmar's specific issues on the platform, and that team includes 99 native Myanmar speakers. The company says it has already taken action on the subject of 64,000 pieces of proactively identifying 63 percent of these articles. Similar claims about Myanmar civil society groups Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Twitter
Globally, the network has been misleading because it may be imminent violence or physical harm, and it is "looking into" establishing a separate moderation policy to handle human rights abuses.
Every country's problems are unique, but this report suggests that Facebook has struggled to understand the unique context of Myanmar's recent violence. With more elections looming in the country in 2020, it's critical that the platform dedicates enough attention to its previously isolated nation and its 20 million Facebook users.
