The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and its partners have launched an online petition calling on Facebook to be held accountable for allowing hate speech content to be published on its platform.
In their petition, the activists demand that the social media giant take effective steps to reduce hate speech content on its platform ahead of the General Election next Tuesday.
The petition comes in response to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission’s (NCIC) concerns that Facebook failed to detect advertisements inciting violence ahead of the elections.
“There is an extensive list of ‘Break the Glass’ measures taken by Facebook during other electoral crises,” the Commission’s Senior Program Advisor for Transitional Justice Martin Mavenjina said.
Activists want the Mark Zuckerberg-led body to explain what it knows about hate and incitement on Kenyan Facebook, as well as make specific software changes to make hate and violence less viral.
“This list is not exhaustive – but it shows Facebook has previously taken specific steps to stop hate spreading on its platform. It should take similar steps now – and come clean with the people of Kenya about the size of the problem, and exactly what it is doing to stop it,” Mavenjina said.
During the weekend, Interior Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiangi and his ICT counterpart Joe Mucheru insisted that no social media platforms or the internet would be shut down.
“The position of the government is very clear, we will respect the Constitution, respect all the rights of our people. We will not intrude or interfere with the freedoms of our people,” Matiangi said while in Kisii.
The peacekeeping organization had given the social media giant a seven-day deadline to clean up hate speech on its platform or face suspension.
Commissioner Danvas Makori issued the ultimatum on the Commission’s behalf, but Matiangi dismissed his feelings as “personal opinion and not official policy.”
Matiangi emphasized that the Cabinet has never considered infringing on Kenyans’ rights.
“That was his opinion which I can confirm that we are not going to take or listen to. We are a mature government and we will not shut down social media or the internet,” Matinagi said.
Mucheru, for his part, dismissed the NCIC’s stance, stating that “the media, including social media, will continue to enjoy press freedom in Kenya.”
He stated once more that the government “is on record.” We are NOT shutting down the Internet.”
The NCIC is an independent ethnic cohesion watchdog established in the aftermath of the 2007-8 post-election violence that killed over 1,000 people.
It does not have the authority to suspend Facebook, but it does have the authority to make recommendations to the government’s Communications Authority.
The NCIC’s recommendations came in response to a report by the advocacy group Global Witness and the UK-based legal activist firm Foxglove, which claimed that Facebook had accepted and broadcast at least 19 ads in both English and Swahili calling for rape, slaughter, and beheadings.
